ARIZONA NEWS
Tempe students record original song about teacher walkout

PHOENIX — Students from a Tempe charter school used their downtime to make a video for an original song about the teacher walkout that has closed many schools around Arizona since last week.
“Don’t Take Our Summer Away” was performed by members of Tempe Preparatory Academy’s Cantamus Choir.
David Smith, a junior at the school, wrote the song and posted the video to YouTube.
The opening lyrics are:
Tempe Prep I want to know why
I am here alone today.
And though I know why you had to go try
Win yourself some higher pay.
The song addresses the concern that students will have to attend school into the summer to make up for classroom time lost during the walkout. Vocalists, backed by a piano, take turns singing about their summer plans.
“It’s really just students singing about summer, not intended to make any huge political statement,” Smith said in an email. “I feel my video will provide a positive and entertaining relief to all the negativity and hatred circling around in Red for Ed.”
Smith said the song was recorded on campus during a “non-instructional” day.
Take a listen: