Our urban school system completely supported the walk out. The Governor of our state even participated at one of our large high schools. My D turned 18 yesterday and was registered to vote at the walk out. I am very proud.
It shouldn’t surprise me, but it does, that any school district would be in opposition to this walkout. Frankly, it’s appalling.
Our district took different approaches based on school. The junior highs had an assembly for the event, mandatory participation. On the other hand the high schools sent a letter home that the students would not be participating and would be prevented from walking out. The rationale given for the high school was that the school is charged with student safety when children are in their care and if they leave the school, the school can no longer protect the children. I think this stance is mainly due to a student suicide last year. The student was questioned by a dean, told to wait for his parents to arrive and was left unsupervised; he left the school and committed suicide and now the school is in a messy lawsuit. The decision not to allow participation is probably self preservation in light of the lawsuit.
If it is a public school, it is also the basis for a separate lawsuit for infringement of the students’ constitutional rights.
A Bentonville West student has been suspended for passing out flyers promoting a school walkout in remembrance of mass shooting victims. #NWAnews
U of M is one of those who said they wouldn’t penalize students for this.
What is really, truly heart-warming to me is seeing those parents outside, supporting their students even if they’re getting detention or suspension.
I’m obviously not a parent yet, but I can’t imagine a scenario where I’m not one of those parents. My parents instilled bad habits in me like standing up for what you believe in, even if there are consequences 
My kids’ alma mater handled it brilliantly, I felt. Any kids who wanted to walk out did - and they had speeches and silence for the 17 kids and even voter reg forms (I read this; they asked parents/community members to give them space and not go).
Seems like about 1/3 walked out, the rest stayed in class. A few came with pro-NRA signs or shirts. It was all peaceful ad by news accounts a positive thing.
I emailed the HS principal and superintendent to thank them, as I believe they probably got a lot of angry emails about it.
Why? Maybe some administrators believe that school and politics shouldn’t mix.
Local rural school in our area did a “walk up” instead of a walk out. They took the time for the students to introduce themselves to others they normally wouldn’t hang out with.
Not only did my whole school district walk out - they also had local and state representatives and staff members of one of my US Senator come to our schools today.
The private Catholic high school that my son attended (and that has mandatory ROTC program) walked out and then held a prayer vigil and lit 17 candles in memory of the students murdered in Parkland. There were also several speakers invited to attend.
My Governor participated in a lie in with student in Zuccotti Park (the Occupy Wall Street site.)
Center City Philadelphia. Our daughter’s charter school gave the high school students choices. They could choose to participate in a school sponsored event. All of the students who chose would walk out and ring the school in a giant, silent circle for 17 minutes or they could go to straight to City Hall for a rally and come in to school late with a note with no repercussions. Both of my daughters had long scheduled 8th grade students coming in to shadow them for the day. They opted not to blow them off and participate in the school event. I was fine either way.
They will do the Philadelphia March later.
I keep seeing those “walk up not walk out” memes and posts, and it brings some questions to my mind:
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Why one not the other? Why derail a 17 minute event with something else that can, and often does, happen organically at any time?
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Are we now going to blame the kids for what has happened? Has anyone suggested that Nikolas Cruz did what he did because someone didn’t say hi to him?
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Do we want to think about how it might feel to be the shy kid who now, embarrassingly, is the one that people are artificially, because of a meme, being “nice” to?
and last,
- do we not think that kids are capable of being kind unless mandated?
It is pretty thrilling when you see your child grow into an adult and stand up for her beliefs. @amom2girls our schools did the same thing re choice. I listened to the Facebook livestream from the capitol (where D ended up). The student speakers were terrific. These colleges better be prepared for a fired up freshman class.
@garland I had all the same thoughts about it that you did.
It also reminded me of another “but what about…” response to a movement - BLM and ALM.
I don’t understand why some people are making this political. These students are honoring the 17 dead and demanding safety while in school, it shouldn’t matter what political party we are from, isn’t this what we all want?
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
I don’t understand why people on this thread are making it political when every thread on this topic ended up being closed. The original post started out so well, but I’ve had to delete several posts.
Let’s not get into a discussion of NRA/gun control/2nd Amendment/etc.
The relevant question is: What has happened to kids in the last 20 years? What are we doing as a culture to the kids to cause this to be frequent?
If it’s only about honoring the kids why are they setting up voter registration as the kids are walking out.
There is no question that the actions and goals of the high school students are political, but this conversation does not have to be political. The thought expressed by the OP is one I believe, and hope, we can all get behind. Standing up for what one believes is something I hope all children/people feel comfortable and empowered to do in our society.
@bhs1978 that was my kids’ school (others too I’m sure).
Certainly registering to vote is a political act but it is not a partisan political act. And our kids always said it was about taking some kind of action, including political action.
What action that would be would depend on the kid, community, whatever. Maybe it’s arming teachers, or better school security or gun control or better mental health care or an anti-bullying caampaign, it varies widely.