Kiddo #3’s teacher locked the door to prevent any student from walking out. All teachers were instructed to do so by the principal. We as a family are trying to determine our response. The school made it very clear that students were not permitted to walk out and that there would be consequences if they did. (Suspension and more.) But I feel that locking them in went too far.
My son’s school (a parochial school) sponsored a student led event honoring the 17 Parkland victims in a way that asked them to make a personal effort to improve their school community. They offered a “Day of Kindness and a Walkout to Worship” and wrote and organized a service, which took place prior to Mass. The program allowed their community to recognize and pray for ALL victims of school shootings. This service was a student-led effort.
Rather than calling for students to “walk out” of the school in protest, they were encouraged to “walk around” the school building and recognize those who might need helpers or advocates and to reach out to them in understanding. They were asked to “walk up” to students they had never taken time to meet and to reach out to them with an invitation for friendship. Students were asked to “raise up” their minds and hearts in prayer for victims, and were called to “step up” and offer seventeen kindnesses in memory of the Parkland, Florida victims.
I thought this was a very touching way to start a movement at the most grassroots level-- peer to peer and with all of their human interactions. Individuals making a difference one individual at a time remains a powerful vehicle for peace. So proud.
My daughter attends our public high school and did the national walkout. Proud of her too for taking a stand but somehow I think that this will blow over for her (but not for all the young individuals who participated in the walkouts) with the next popular movement of the day.
But when a political action is supported and encouraged by a public school it’s not a good idea. By definition it would make some uncomfortable and not empowered to take an opposing view.
I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on this point. By choosing to view this as a teachable moment, I believe those schools/faculties/districts that allowed students to walk-out without consequence were within their rights.However, I actually believe that schools do have the right to impose consequences if that is the district’s position, but to unilaterally deny a group of students the opportunity to participate in this exercise of their right to free speech is, to me, to teach the opposite of what I would want my children to learn about standing up for what one believes in. If a student is willing to suffer the consequences for that decision, then they have also learned valuable lessons. From what I saw in today’s news coverage, there were plenty of places where many students chose to remain in class while their peers chose to walk out. Sorry if I sound all over the place on this, but I think that school is a great place to learn about these things in real life, not just in textbooks.
Whether an in house assembly, a few moments of silence, or a brief on the grounds assembly, I think every HS can and should be able to,participate. Of course I’m biased, as everywhere I go, I meet people who knew one of the victims. I understand the desire for other HS students to want to pay their respects. They think, this could have been me or my best friend.m
Many schools in our area sited safety concerns. The schools honored in class 17 minutes of silence in honor of the victims. Very appropriate in my eyes.
If the schools condone the event they become liable. One student gets hurt and they are on the hook. Don’t tell me that a student would not sue the district in this case. The schools are protecting themselves and I believe it is the proper thing to do.
Students who have a strong enough conviction should walk but should also willingly accept any consequence that goes along with it.
Which is also a lesson learned…some things are worth standing up for even if there are consequences attached.
“Kiddo #3’s teacher locked the door to prevent any student from walking out. All teachers were instructed to do so by the principal. We as a family are trying to determine our response. The school made it very clear that students were not permitted to walk out and that there would be consequences if they did. (Suspension and more.) But I feel that locking them in went too far.”
OMG!!! I’d be beyond furious. Probably would pull them out of that school and find a private school that reflected my values.
If I knew in advance, I’d probably have kept my kid out of school today in protest of the school’s policy, too.
Every school in my area offered safe alternatives, like in house assemblies or a gathering in school yard., within the school grounds. Whenever a principal explained beforehand his or her concerns, there hasn’t been any diaagreement. At least for today.
Sometimes “feeling uncomfortable” is not a bad thing. Amazingly, our snowflakes didn’t melt during the course of this little event.
@yourmomma Different schools handled it differently. Ours was supportive, but only about 1/3 of students chose to do the 17 minute walkout, 2/3 stayed in. Kids planned and ran the whole thing, had speeches, moments of silence, and a few kids wore 2A support shirts/signs during the event.
The event was held on school property, just outside. So no liability, I’m thinking.
There will likely be liability for the school that locked students in. Infringement of speech and false imprisonment are grounds for civil action, if not more. I think it is reasonable to expect those in charge of public schools to have at least minimal understanding of the law, and most districts have at least one lawyer on staff. If not, both the state and federal legal staffs of the education departments could have advised them.
“Sometimes “feeling uncomfortable” is not a bad thing.”
But who gets to decide when “feeling uncomfortable” is a bad thing or a good thing.
Not the school, bhs. That much is clear if it is a public school. Students’ constitutional rights to express themselves outweigh uncomfortable feelings by anyone.
As long as you’re willing to support a group of kids right to “walk out” of school without consequence for something you don’t agree with that’s fine. But call me skeptical.
That’s a crazy argument. I’m not saying I agree but by that logic a citizens’ constitutional right to bear arms outweighs uncomfortable feelings by anyone.
That’s my point about who gets to decide.
Yes, yourmomma, both I and the ACLU do defend the free speech rights of those with whom we disagree. That is rather the point of the constitution which we uphold. Reasonable restrictions upon such speech are upheld (after much scrutiny) when it presents a clear and present danger, such as falsely yelling fire in a crowded theater. In the same manner, there are currently some restrictions limiting the second amendment,the adequacy of which we are not to discuss on this forum.
This thread is getting ridiculous. Kids may have limited first amendment rights while at school, such as if they want to wear black armbands. However, the first amendment doesn’t give them the right to cut class anytime they want to go to a protest.
This has been adjudicated. See the Tinker case. US supreme court. Still applies. Students don’t lose their rights when they enter school, and may suffer consequences no more severe than missing class for other reasons
I took an early lunch from work and went to the HS my had attended to show support. Every student, every teacher walked. I’m proud of all of them, nationwide.
As was said upthread I for one look forward to the positive changes coming!