Speaking Up for Our School

Ouch! Students at Gloria Casarez Elementary in Philadelphia were tripping in the schoolyard. In fact, more than 40 kids were hurt in just two months last school year. 

“It was dangerous to play in our own yard,” explains 10-year-old Devyn Smith.

Over the years, the concrete in the yard had deteriorated. Much of it was uneven and broken. 

Officials had been asking the school district to repair it for more than 10 years. But many of the city’s 300 other public schools needed repairs too. Getting the district’s attention to fix the schoolyard seemed hopeless. But Devyn and his classmates were about to get the job done.

Ouch! Students at Gloria Casarez Elementary in Philadelphia were tripping in the schoolyard. In fact, more than 40 kids were hurt. This happened within just two months last school year. 

“It was dangerous to play in our own yard,” explains 10-year-old Devyn Smith.

Over the years, the concrete in the yard had deteriorated. Much of it was uneven and broken. 

Officials wanted the school district to repair it. They had been asking for more than 10 years. But many of the city’s 300 other public schools needed repairs too. Getting the schoolyard fixed seemed hopeless. But Devyn and his classmates were about to get the job done.

The kids helped collect more than 160 signatures from parents and teachers on a petition to get the yard fixed. Then Devyn and another Young Change Maker, Jayden Hughes, spoke to the school board. They gave speeches about the yard’s broken concrete and how it affected them. 

“I was nervous,” Jayden says. “But I did it because I knew it would help change my school.”

The next morning, crews began repairing the concrete in the schoolyard. After years of adults asking for the repairs, it was kids who made it happen! 

“We did that by using our voices,” Devyn says. 

The Young Change Makers aren’t stopping there. They still meet every month to discuss ways to improve their school. 

The kids helped collect signatures on a petition to get the yard fixed. More than 160 parents and teachers signed it. Then Devyn and another Young Change Maker, Jayden Hughes, spoke to the school board. They gave speeches about the yard’s broken concrete. They talked about how it affected them. 

“I was nervous,” Jayden says. “But I did it because I knew it would help change my school.”

The next morning, crews began repairing the concrete in the schoolyard. For years, adults have been asking for the repairs. But it was kids who finally made it happen! 

“We did that by using our voices,” Devyn says. 

The Young Change Makers aren’t stopping there. They still meet every month. They discuss more ways to improve their school. 

1. What is the main problem described in the text? How did the Young Change Makers help solve it?
2. Why did getting the schoolyard fixed seem hopeless at first?
   
3. What does the author mean when she writes that the Young Change Makers “aren’t stopping there”?
   

1. What is the main problem described in the text? How did the Young Change Makers help solve it?
2. Why did getting the schoolyard fixed seem hopeless at first?
   
3. What does the author mean when she writes that the Young Change Makers “aren’t stopping there”?