JERSEY CITY -- Students at Snyder High School say they would rather protest with their teachers outside than sit in an auditorium with nothing to do all morning.

More than 100 students lined Bergen Avenue chanting "no contract, no work" as part of the city's first teacher strike in 20 years.

"I support my teachers, even though they can be a pain in the butt sometimes when they push us to our limits, but that's what they are supposed to be doing," Marie Houghton said as she marched with teachers.

The Snyder High School student said she learned of the strike late last night and told her parents she would be joining her teachers, which they supported. Houghton said one of her teachers recently had a child and believes he is paying too much for insurance for his son.

Other students, however, decided last minute to join in on the strike.

"I just feel like the teachers deserve to get paid for teaching us," 17-year-old junior Heilah Ortiz said.

A woman stood on top of an SUV parked outside the school while students lined the street in front of parked cars. Many held signs and some wore union t-shirts.

"They teach us the curriculum that we need," junior Kayla Miller said of why she was cheering on the teachers. "They're going to help us graduate so they might as well get paid a lot of money."

Downtown, teachers striking walked young children to the doors of McNair Academic High School building. Students there also joined the picket set up by approximately 50 teachers who assembled in front of the school this morning. In Journal Square, some younger students held their teachers' hands as they picketed around School 11.

Teachers and security guards outside School 11 this morning encouraged parents not to leave their children. The scene outside of many of the district's schools are settling down, as teachers marching to rally outside the district's office on Claremont Avenue.

Negotiations are continuing this morning for a new contract.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.