No debates here. But wondering about your local HS position on school walkouts in support of Parkland HS.
I have read some schools have threatened students with suspension. Not where I live. Instead school is actively supporting a walkout: “At __pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, all students are encouraged to walk out of their classes in silence to protest Congress’ inaction. We will meet In the auditorium for the remainder of the school day to honor those lost, hear from speakers, and discuss what our community can do to ensure that this sort of violence never happens again.”
No kids in the school but I do know kids are organizing a walkout. I guess they’ve been told they’ll get detention. We’ve been advising them on ways to approach it with administration to get them to be cooperative and encourage it.
I’m impressed with schools that are supporting it. That’s the way it should be.
Saw this on ACLU today for anyone whose school is threatening actions beyond school policies.
I am really proud of the Florida high school students for raising the passion and awareness across their peers and doing something about it. It is amazing how their voices are being heard.
Coming from an old fart college Vietnam War protestor
There is a comment by @MITChris in that post with a link to a Google doc with links to similar statements from other colleges. (sorry, I can’t post the link to the doc here). Some of the statements are on Twitter.
So far, there are similar statements from WPI, UMass Amherst, Smith, Trinity, DePaul, Caltech, and Tulane.
My high schooler will be on break on that date. Too bad, as I would have encouraged her to walk out and I’m pretty sure the school would support it if it were done in an orderly and respectful manner.
I have to give the Parkland kids a lot of credit for taking a stand on this issue. It’s not easy to take the heat of being in the spotlight, especially on a subject like this that can sometimes bring out the worst in people.
I wrote about our local children walking to City Hall, for some a distance of 11 miles. The news showed some moms bringing water and pizza. Well, one of the pizza moms was our very own CCer, momtogkc. (I hope she doesn’t mind me praising her.)
No official word from the school on support vs disciplinary action. Jr. High Kiddo’s teacher at that bell told them she would allow them to walk out (sounds like she might) on the 14th, but kiddo is nervous about repurcussions. High school kiddo is walking out. I told him DH and I were 100% behind him if he did and he was relieved. I have strong reasons to believe that the principal of the high school is more likely to support the NRA than the students on this one, so it will be interesting to see what happens. We have a fairly new superintendent and I can’t predict where they’ll stand.
I think all of us should call the administration of our local schools -whether we currently have kids there or not - and state our support for a walkout. If an administrator is on the fence or inclined to not be supportive, they need to hear that it will be an unpopular move and they need to get onboard. with 3/14 almost 3 weeks out, there’s time to change opinions and policies.
Many schools have democracy/civics in their required curriculum, oftentimes including hours of engagement. I think it is hypocritical to then punish students for being involved in protest and for exercising their free speech instead of encouraging it.
As far as the “they should be in school”, school days are constantly interrupted for all kinds of things which have little to do with classroom learning. On the other hand, I’d argue this has a direct connection to civics and learning about democracy.
It was a high school walk out to support teachers that led to the more generalized Wisconsin pro union demonstrations in 2011. I am thrilled that our local high schools are once again speaking at the state legislature, as it brings many of them into the politically process for life. Not to mention the current issue. We need a vocal and engaged citizenry in this country.
