Students at Everett High School are mixed in their views of the cultural climate on their campus.
“None of the groups ever intermix. The Hispanic kids hang out with the Hispanic kids, the white kids hang out with the white kids. The school doesn’t have a sense of community. It’s always there, but this year I’ve noticed it a lot.”
– Mary Fischer, 18, senior
“I like Everett High School. I do the sports. I play soccer. There are some people who say names or ‘go back to Africa.’ But it doesn’t matter. We all come from different cultures. There are no American kids.”
– Ali Hussein, 17, sophomore, moved here from Kenya two years ago
“There are cliques, such as the jocks, gangster wannabes and smart kids, as well as those ‘who can’t speak English very well.’ There’s no actual ‘I don’t like you because of your race.’ … I hang out with everyone.”
– Dylan Tracy, 14, freshman
“Just once in a while I hear people talking about different races, like ‘those Mexicans,’ ‘those Asians.’”
– Ke’ene Raynor, 15, sophomore
“It’s a normal school that is diverse. And people get along.”
– Mohamed Osable, 17, junior, who moved from Egypt four years ago
“I really don’t think there’s a big thing. I just think a lot of kids don’t like the administration.”
– Stephanie Stokes, 16, junior
“I have friends that are Puerto Rican, Mexican, Vietnamese, Laos. I don’t really see the problem.”
– Matt Good, 17, junior
“The Hispanics are their own group and don’t talk to anyone else, just hang out on that corner and think everyone hates them.”
– Conor O’Reilly, 18, senior
“It’s really racial. The Mexicans always make fun of the Arabians and the Arabians make fun of the Mexicans. They always get in fights.”
– Jeremy Kuehn, 15, sophomore
“When you look down on this side, you’ll see Mexicans, and on the other side Iraqis and Arabians and blacks. Not to say people aren’t cool with each other. But it’s there.”
– Anthony deVera, 16, sophomore
“I know there’s been problems, but I think most everyone gets involved. We have such a variety of cultures at Everett High, but I think everyone gets along.”
– Brenda Werth, 17, senior
“I really don’t think there’s a cultural problem. It’s people’s problems that they have with each other, that’s when fights break out and rumors. It’s not about race.”
– Rendel Jones, 16, sophomore
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