The journey to find funding
Hawene Alemayehu, Staff Writer
School clubs and scheduled classes differ in many ways: clubs are often seen as extracurriculars while scheduled classes are required. Because of this, scheduled classes receive financial support from the school while clubs are left to fend for themselves. However, this arrangement between school funding and classes isn’t extended to the journalism class.
The journalism class at Samo explores printed news media by reporting, investigating and writing. These skills let us come together and write articles to produce a newspaper. This class is presented as an elective class for all Samo students. Yet, it’s the only course in the school that is expected to raise their own money.
Journalism is an important class, not only does it teach students how to investigate and report, but also informs outside students of different things happening in the school. Through the newspaper, students can explore a number of things concerning them. The news section keeps students updated on news surrounding Santa Monica. Such as, the new buildings in the school or important ACT/SAT tips. The Arts and Entertainment section is an outlet for students who want to hear reviews on recent shows, movies or plays. The features carry on throughout the paper. Many schools encourage students to become more informed on their surroundings, such as their culture, news, and school subject. The school not funding the paper reflects on students gaining information. The newspaper is also an unofficial/official way to hold the school accountable, the staff of the paper swears an oath to be on the watch and report all the truth of what we’ve seen.
Besides this, journalism is an elective at Samo similar to other classes such as photography, orchestra, and art programs who all receive little to no funding. In order to print our newspaper, each journalism student had to sell at least four subcrtionships, and at one point considered not printing issues at all. This follows into the art program, all these other classes receive funding from the school, materials, while the journalism courses receive none. Similar to clubs, journalism is expected to raise our own money.
However, many clubs face this same dilemma. How do you raise your own money for your club? Many clubs decide to collect money from bake sales and sponsors, but much of this money doesn’t last and the alternative is to turn to scholarships. Claire Kovac (‘23) , President of the Literary Magazine, who publishes students' writing and art work, requires a lot of funding to print their magazines.
“Our club needs to raise 1,000 to print as issues for the literary magazine and be able to distribute. But so far the only we’ve been able to do is really outside of school planning, bake sales, which have been successful, but it would be great, but it would be great if the school could provide better opportunities…” Kovac said.
Clubs play an important role in helping students explore their hobbies outside of their academic education. Many students go on to pursue careers with the passions they’ve discovered through their favorite highschool clubs. Along with that, clubs also provide safe space for students to share and make long lasting friendships.
Many school clubs are able to receive some funding through the PTSA grant, which can provide clubs 250 dollars per semester. However, the process to get these funds is hard and many clubs are not even aware of this opportunity. Sofia Ramalingam (‘22), Vice president of One Swap at a Time, speaks on the struggle to get funding from the school.
“It's really hard for us to find funding because the forms that Samo provides are a rigorous process to get approved and in order to get approved, you have to prove your funding for something, and go through multiple stages as well,” Ramalingam said.
There needs to be better opportunities for clubs to receive funds. Although it might not seem like the school’s responsibility, it is their job to create a safe, nurturing and opportunity filled environment for students. The Schools should do better in providing resources and knowledge at least with how clubs can get scholarships and club funding.