KEEP PHOTOGRAPHY ALIVE AT SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL

SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL IS ON THE VERGE OF LOSING ONE OF ITS MOST IMPACTFUL AND CREATIVE PROGRAMS, THE PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM. SAN MARCOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (SMUSD) HAS DECIDED TO REMOVE PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) DEPARTMENT, LEAVING IT AS ONLY A VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS (VAPA) CLASS. THIS CHANGE IS NOT ONLY UNNECESSARY, IT IS UNJUST.

THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS DECISION IS DEEPLY FLAWED. AFTER AN EMPLOYEE AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE DECIDED TO MAKE THIS CHANGE, A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD IS ADVOCATING TO CLASSIFY THE COURSE AS A VAPA OPTION SO STUDENTS CAN EARN THE VAPA CREDITS NEEDED FOR GRADUATION. BUT HERE'S THE ISSUE, PHOTOGRAPHY ALREADY PROVIDES VAPA CREDIT TOWARDS GRADUATION. IN FACT, IT OFFERS MULTIPLE BENEFITS: ELECTIVE CREDITS, VAPA CREDITS, AND EVEN WORLD LANGUAGE CREDIT AFTER TWO YEARS. REMOVING IT FROM CTE SERVES NO EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE AND WILL ONLY HARM STUDENTS.

THIS DECISION APPEARS TARGETED, AND THE CONSEQUENCES ARE SEVERE. IT WILL STRIP OUR

PROGRAM OF CRITICAL FUNDING AND RESOURCES, LIMITING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR STUDENTS' LEARNING AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION. EVEN WORSE, IT FORCES OUR DEDICATED TEACHER, MR. BRIONES, OUT OF HIS ROLE UNLESS HE INDEPENDENTLY FINANCES A RETURN TO COLLEGE TO EARN AN ART CREDENTIAL, DESPITE NEARLY TEN YEARS OF PROVEN SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM. THE SCHOOL LIKELY WON'T HIRE A NEW TEACHER IF THE PROGRAM IS MOVED TO VAPA, MEANING THAT ALL THREE PHOTOGRAPHY COURSES, BEGINNING, ADVANCED, AND HONORS, COULD BE ENTIRELY ELIMINATED.

PHOTOGRAPHY IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ELECTIVES ON CAMPUS, WITH OVER 150+ STUDENTS ENROLLED THIS YEAR ALONE. CUTTING IT WOULD IMPACT HUNDREDS OF CURRENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS WHO RELY ON THIS COURSE NOT JUST FOR CREDITS, BUT FOR A CREATIVE OUTLET AND A PATHWAY TO DISCOVER THEIR VOICE. THESE CLASSES ARE NOT ONLY ACADEMICALLY ENRICHING;

THEY ARE DEEPLY MEANINGFUL FOR STUDENTS' PERSONAL GROWTH.

OUR PROGRAM DOES FAR MORE THAN TEACH PHOTOGRAPHY. WE SERVE THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY IN COUNTLESS WAYS - PHOTOGRAPHING SCHOOL DANCES, GRADUATION, SPORTS TEAMS, STAFF HEADSHOTS, SENIOR SUPERLATIVES, AND MORE - ALL FREE OF CHARGE. WE CREATE THE GRADUATION PROGRAM COVER, HOST A YEARLY STUDENT EXHIBITION, AND SUPPORT LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL DSLR CAMERAS SO STUDENTS CAN GROW THEIR TECHNICAL SKILLS WHILE EXPLORING THEIR CREATIVITY.

ELIMINATING PHOTOGRAPHY WOULD BE A PROFOUND LOSS FOR SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL. IT WOULD TAKE AWAY OPPORTUNITIES, SILENCE STUDENT VOICES, AND DISREGARD THE IMMENSE VALUE THIS PROGRAM BRINGS TO CAMPUS LIFE.

WE LOVE THIS SCHOOL. WE LOVE THIS COMMUNITY. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO HELP US PROTECT A PROGRAM THAT HELPS STUDENTS THRIVE.

PLEASE FILL OUT OUR GOOGLE FORM AND SHARE OUR MESSAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. LET'S STAND TOGETHER AND SHOW THE SCHOOL BOARD WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY MEANS TO US. LET'S FIGHT TO SAVE THE PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM.

THIS IS OUR VOICE. THIS IS OUR CREATIVITY. THIS IS OUR FUTURE. DON'T TAKE IT AWAY.