The Chesapeake Region Association of Student Councils, or CRASC, represents the over 80,000 students of the Anne Arundel public school system. Far from being an extracurricular group for students with interests in government, our organization represents the official student voice of the school system and community.
My specific role as the first vice president is to serve as the liaison to elected bodies and officials such as the Anne Arundel County Council and the General Assembly.
In my official capacity, I am often exposed to adults who tend to disagree with the idea that students are capable of self-representation. Although I obviously disagree with the points of view of these people, I have always appreciated the way in which they have been willing to speak with me and the respect they have afforded me. This is not the case with County Executive Steve Schuh.
As many readers of The Sunday Capital recently read (Nov. 1), the county executive chose to communicate with some of his younger constituents in a manner that can be charitably described as "condescending." As a student advocate, I was insulted by the manner in which Mr. Schuh addressed the students. Each word I read stung me, and I was just a bystander. I can only imagine how the students felt.
The more frustrating part of this encounter is that Mr. Schuh does not seem to appreciate that his comments could be considered disparaging and defended what he said was a "teachable moment."
Well, Mr. Schuh, I have decided that instead of reacting to your comments with anger or some other ill-advised emotional response that would serve only to perpetuate the negative character of a student who is capable of only "(parroting) something some adult told (me) to say," I will instead turn this into a teachable moment for you.
Mr. Schuh, you have the privilege of being the executive of over 555,000 people in Anne Arundel County. I am sure several attempts were made to communicate with you, far more than you can personally respond to, yet you took the time to respond to several county public school students. In the way that you addressed Joseph Volosin, you made it obvious that you felt that he not only was "dumb," but he also was not worth your time.
We consider Steve Schuh to be a consummate politician. So his blunt — rude seems accurate — response to students who dared suggest he was wrong on the issue of teacher salaries is at the very least inexplicable.
You had the audacity to respond in an objectively condescending way to a constituent who took the time to petition you for a redress of grievances. Mr. Schuh, this makes painfully obvious a difference that exists in your mind that my fellow students and I are forced to deal with every day: those who can vote, and those who you do not have to care about.
This is an all-too-familiar sentiment, which is further exacerbated by your sense that you can completely disrespect those who are ineligible to vote due to their age. Would you have responded the same way to a voter, kindly informing them that they lack critical thinking skills?
Mr. Schuh, although your comments anger me, I bear you no ill will. Your comments seethe with a refreshing, though misguided, passion. I can certainly understand how stressful it must be to lead a county as large and diverse as ours, with so many audiences competing for your attention.
However, I would appreciate it if you would have the courtesy to afford those students who do take the time to write to you the same respect I have shown to you today.
In the interest of putting these unconscionable remarks behind us, we would be willing to accept your apology to the students and citizens of Anne Arundel County at a CRASC General Assembly.
The next one is on Nov. 17, at Old Mill High School, and I would love to speak with you about how the youth of the county public schools and public officials can work together to the benefit of our community.
Alex McGrath is a junior at Severna Park High School and is the first vice president of CRASC. Contact him at alexander.r.mcgrath@gmail.com.