By ZAINAB SALAWU

The hallways at the High School of Computers and Technology are so quiet at 3 p.m. on weekdays, you could hear a pin drop. Straight after 8th period, students go home.

“I don’t attend any after school program from school, because there aren’t any,” said Luis Kelly, a junior.

All of the after school programs were cut last year due to budget restraints, said Principal Bruce Abramowitz.

“Due to excess budget cuts over the last three years, our after school programs are the first to be sacrificed, “ said Abramowitz. “I have to make choices between mandated instructional programs and…after school activities, and instructional programs have to come first.”

This was not a popular decision with HSCT students.

“I want HSCT to offer a stable music program after school, so students can learn the basics of instruments and how to play them,” said Marino Villar, a junior.
“I am a very artistic guy. It would be nice if the school offered after school programs for art,” said honor roll junior Jimmy Xique, “just drawing or learning to draw and paint professionally.”

Some students, like Nichelle Cross, thinks after school programs would help the culture of the school as well. “It would be beneficial if the school offered a Gay/Straight Alliance, considering how disapproving people are about homosexuality,” she said.

“After school programs teach skills such as critical thinking, technology, literacy, ability to collaborate and work in teams,” said Chris Seamens, a program coordinator at the Partnership for After School Education. “Talk to your principal. Talk to an organization. Try to get them to organize an after school program in your school.”

Last year, said Abramowitz, SOBRO, a non-profit organization, provided the school with after school programs such as music production, graphic design, dance, film production and photography. But when he needed to use funds to help struggling students, he created a summer school and cut afternoon programming. “The economy is tough,” he said.

“I usually go to work after school, and after work I do my homework,” said Brian Eylinkrig, a junior. He is involved with the school’s robotics program, but that only runs for six weeks in the fall.

“After school I just go home,” said Darnell Crawford, a senior, who with his peers heads for the bus stop after 8th period.

“Just because your school does not have after school programs does not mean you cannot get involved with other after school programs outside of your school,” said Seamens.