Skip to Content
Community

How One Team of High School Journalists is Covering the L.A. Teachers Strike on Their Campus

12:40 PM PST on January 22, 2019

Photo by Sam Torres, The Pearl Post

[dropcap size=big]A[/dropcap]lgebra classes are overcrowded and restrooms are often missing essential necessities at tiny Daniel Pearl Magnet High School in Lake Balboa. After seeing the effects of low public school budgets firsthand, budding journalists at the school’s newspaper realized that their perspective is both unique and needed in the local news landscape.

“Maybe reporters could be more open minded to what students are going through, and to value education,” said Michael Chidbachian, online editor-in-chief of The Pearl Post. Chidbachian said that one L.A. Times article “made it pretty obvious that they were supporting the school district.”

Indeed, students at The Pearl Post are young, sharp and will probably come for everyone’s bylines in the future. The student journalists have been diligently covering the UTLA strike, which ended Tuesday, and they’ve been doing it with unique voices – like this video compilation of student opinions on their campus.

Daniel Pearl Magnet High School is in the San Fernando Valley and is a part of LAUSD. The school offers a focus on journalism and communications.

After seeing witnessing both conditions at DPMHS and their teachers striking, The Pearl Post reporters whipped out their pencils and began reporting. “As students, we’re the ones being affected,” Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Cintigo told L.A. Taco. “We’re writing the truth, others might be biased.”

Spanish teacher Marta Rodriguez and resource teacher Sadia Aziz talk with a parent when teachers distributed fliers on union contract negotiations with the school district back in October. Photo by Alliana Samonte/The Pearl Post.

Cintigo, said that the small school of just 355 students faces overcrowded classrooms. “Classrooms end up being huge,” she said, adding that at least one class had as many as 49 students.

Algebra classes got particularly full causing some students to struggle, needing more one on one attention from teachers, Chidbachian pointed out.

The young reporters all told L.A. Taco about their budget-related woes. The school only has around two teachers per subject for the entire school and the Pre-Calc class is poised to be moved to an online classroom next term.

Also, the students pointed out that the low budgets caused the school to struggle to afford necessities, even basics like restroom supplies.

Math teacher Leslie Hicks partakes in the UTLA strike on January 14. Photo by Mahali Sanchez, The Pearl Post.

According to reporter Casey Wanatick, corporate media outlets don’t understand students and teachers. “They aren’t affected by low budgets from the school district,” Wanatick explained.

Covering the strike was a way of covering history, staff writer Itzel Luna told L.A. Taco. “Our teachers are fighting for our rights by risking their financial stability and covering the strike is a way for me to support and help my teachers.”

RELATED: Teachers Strike Ends ~ Teachers Are Expected Back in L.A. Schools Wednesday

Already a user?Log in

Thanks for reading!

Register to continue

Become a Member

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Spot Check! Caviar Cakes, Champurrado Pot de Creme, Tamal Ice Cream, and Free Elote From Becky G

You can also party with L.A.'s first Black women-owned dispensary, enjoy a Lebanese legend past midnight, and pair quesabirrias with funnel cakes.

September 29, 2023

The Seven Best Tacos Along Metro’s K Line, From Crenshaw to Inglewood

The K Line is Metro's newest light rail line that cruises through the heart of Black Los Angeles, from Nipsey Square to Leimert Park. The taco scene along this route is all about hustle, featuring some of the cities must under-the-radar community gems like a historic L.A. taquería with a killer red salsa, lightly crunchy "enchilada tacos," and so much more. Next stop: flavor.

September 29, 2023

Is Hollywood’s Walk of Fame The World’s Worst Tourist Attraction?

A local news station scanned Google, TikTok, and other online reviews to cherry-pick a handful that calls the Boulevard "grubby, slightly scary... dirty, unsafe" and "one of the worst tourist attractions on the planet." We weighed in on the subject.

September 28, 2023

The Eight Best Punk Bars and Venues in Los Angeles

This may be the last generation of beautifully grimy punk bars and venues in a city that is overdeveloping all of these counterculture community spaces into the post-gentrification abyss. Go and support by buying drinks at all these places to make sure they stick around for the next generation.

September 27, 2023

L.A.’s Best Secret Ecuadorian Restaurant Opens Weekends Only at This Wilshire Blvd. Cafe

On weekends,Cafe Fresco transforms into one of the rare places in the city to find seco de chivo, llapingachao, guatita, and other regional Ecuadorian eats.

September 26, 2023
See all posts