Victor Voice Exclusive: Henry Merges Interview
December 21, 2020
Henry Merges, Senior at VSHS, sat down with Liz Przepiora to discuss the petition he started, which has accumulated over 1100 signees.
December 21, 2020
Henry Merges, Senior at VSHS, sat down with Liz Przepiora to discuss the petition he started, which has accumulated over 1100 signees.
Max McCabe • Jan 5, 2021 at 9:51 am
I thought that it was really nice of him the try to make a change when no one else would. He made a petition that got over a thousand signatures and he now has a meeting with administration.
Catherine Rowan • Jan 4, 2021 at 12:16 pm
I’m happy that Henry started the petition and talked with the administration because most kids don’t bother to speak up. This may have made more students not feel alone because they were able to sign the petition to hopefully have their voices heard.
jackson • Dec 22, 2020 at 9:36 pm
found it interesting that the school was so interested in helping for what the students want and that someone is standing up for it.
Ben Swackhamer • Dec 22, 2020 at 12:13 pm
I agree with Henry and Thought the interview was very good and organized.
Owen Race • Dec 22, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Very well organized and it seemed really professional. I feel there was a purpose behind it that many felt strongly about. Great work.
Atasia Williams • Dec 22, 2020 at 10:34 am
I think that having someone like Henry help the students have voice on something that affects us so much is going to help the students feel more comfortable and encouraged to speak out.
Victoria Rynkowski • Dec 21, 2020 at 7:08 pm
I am very happy that he is speaking up about this. I really think he has made people feel not alone when it comes to this situation with the school. I feel like this is a great way for people to come together and fight for what is right! I really don´t like this new change because I feel like we all have gotten used to the normal schedule every week, but now we have to change to a new schedule again? During this time in the year, people are getting more stressed out and are dealing with mental health when it comes to school, why do we need to make this worse?
Julianne Wright • Dec 21, 2020 at 1:25 pm
I completely agree with Henry’s stance on the impending shift of the current learning system. I believe this change would not prove useful for the academic performance or mental health of students. This arrangement would make it more stressful for teachers and students to meet deadlines and lead to them having a decreased quality of life. Also, zooming into class every day seems like a less effective learning approach, because with how things are right now you don’t feel the need to rush, making the concepts far easier to understand. Excessive screen time is also very harmful to your brain and eyes. Studies have shown that children who spend more time in front of screens score lower on tests, and doesn’t the school board want their students to succeed? Shouldn’t we ” Strive for Excellence”… Yeah I heard it too, but it’s true! Henry stood up for the significant amount of the student body feeling this way, and for that, I commend your ambition. I have to say, the day I found out I thought the only thing I could do was to be the overbearing Karen I am, email Mr. Terranova and eat my feelings. God, I am so happy that someone else came up with a better plan. Keep up the amazing work your doing for our school, and thank you for leading the movement!
grant moore • Dec 21, 2020 at 1:20 pm
i agree with Henry but in some ways i don’t. we all have to remember that there are kids with IEP
stands for individual education plan. i have talk to many kids in the school and yes there are some that agree with Henry but some are frustrated. they feel like there were left out of the picture you have to remember that there are kids with this plan that need that schooling need the extra help or more interaction with a teacher even if its on zoom. this change can be frustrating but i would like to come up with ideas on how we can have those kids who need / want the extra interaction with teachers. just please remember that there are other kids out there with learning disabilities too.
Jordan Biery • Dec 21, 2020 at 12:26 pm
I think he is an amazing advocate for our student body. He’s standing up for our community when the rest of us felt like we couldn’t. He set his emotions aside and did what he felt was right for the better or our school. He didn’t fear the negative feed back, he was very courageous.
Madison De Young • Dec 21, 2020 at 9:12 am
I agree on what Henry is saying, and I am glad that there is someone who can take stand in our school, with being fully confident on what they believe. I think this change is unnecessary, and it won´t help at all to any student. I feel it’s a waste of time, and just a add on to more stress. Students grades will drop, and many people are going to be more unmotivated. Covid-19 has already impacted everyone, and adding this on is going to be another impact in a negative way. Everyone is already used to the ¨normal schedule,¨ so why change it when it’s been going good for the most part.
Keshil Bilimoria • Dec 21, 2020 at 9:04 am
I really liked this video. I was glad to hear that Henry Merges made the petition and so many people signed it and that he is going to meet the administration.
Brandon Lang • Dec 21, 2020 at 9:03 am
I agree with what Henry is trying to do completely. I think someone needed to do this and he is perfect for stepping up. I think that he will have an effect on the school’s decision with the student’s feedback. I don’t think they will completely change everything but it should have a good impact.
Sadie Kazacos • Dec 21, 2020 at 8:55 am
I am so glad that he is doing something about it and it even feels like a change might be made. I am a fully remote student and I think that this decision was made without regard of the students that are fully remote. I would hate to have to zoom in everyday of the week. It is draining already to have to do zooms 2 days and i cant imagine 4 so I hope a change is made and i am so glad that someone has took a stand.
Mike Muscarella • Dec 21, 2020 at 8:38 am
I’m very impressed by Henry’s activism and the courage he’s showing. Speaking truth to power is very intimidating, even when that power is wielded gently. Yet, part of being a participant in a free society is speaking out when necessary and from an informed perspective. Henry makes some valuable point and clearly has the support of hundreds of students, faculty and community members. I sincerely hope those who support him will also take action as well.
Jonaira Medina Vega • Dec 21, 2020 at 7:22 am
I agree with Henry’s choice because not many student would dare to speak out to the administrators. The new changes coming on January 4, 2021 will make a huge impact on students grades. We will likely become more stressed, and talk less during classes where we should be learning and asking questions to get the topic. Some teachers will likely make more homework for students while we already get a workload and have to do it in less time. COVID-19 has really done a number on us students and is making it harder for us to learn. We freshman are having a really hard time adjusting to being in a new school, with different subjects, and having a widespread disease going around. Many other students, not just freshman are having a hard time adjusting, and adding more workload will make it worse. More students will fail, others will lose their motivation to do work, and worst of all you can expect an increase in dropouts this year. Thank you for working hard to change this Henry, and i hope it works out for the better of us students.
Nolan Shevlin • Dec 21, 2020 at 7:19 am
I am all for what Henry is doing. I believe that the way the school has proposed to change the learning schedule won’t work for many, many students. Some people already need a little help, and requiring them to zoom into more classes makes no sense to me. Plus, everyone is finally getting used to the current schedule, and now they want to change it. Also, lots of teachers do not feel that this is the way to go, as they are already stressed from having to teach multiple classes both online and in person.
Autumn Glynn • Dec 21, 2020 at 7:15 am
I completely agree with what he has to say and I am glad that someone is taking a stand for the students in this school
Saige Mealey • Dec 21, 2020 at 7:15 am
I really liked this video. I was happy to be able to hear from Henry about why he created the petition and that he is going to meet with administration.
Stephanie Haas • Dec 21, 2020 at 7:14 am
I found it interesting that Henry Merges was going to have a meeting with the school’s staff and that the school was so interested in helping for what the students want.
Jason Athans • Dec 21, 2020 at 7:12 am
It was surprising that so many people signed the petition.