Shouldn’t this issue of school safety and the safety of our children and teachers be non-partisan? Again, how can anyone be against that? I really want to know.
What is political about it? Demanding school safety and further action by adults to ensure that isn’t a political issue. I’m delighted to note that many colleges have already announced that they will not penalize applicants or students in any way for exercising their first amendment rights, and applaud them for doing so (see the college admissions forum).
MYOS1634: " However this is NOT just an adult issue, or adults dragging kids into it. Kids getting shot in schools isn’t an adult issue in fact.
The Florida kids WERE THERE. It is their issue. And all teenagers know that it could have been them, which makes that their issue too."
Why was nothing done before when multiple school, church, movie theater, university shootings were happening? Assault weapons, which apparently shoot people all by themselves, could have been banned then.
Not a peep.
No marches for those kids.
@roycroftmom I don’t believe my view is cynical at all. Re read my posts.
I believe in bans on assault rifles
I believe in the safety of students
I participated in a walk out as a student
I believe most students agree with the cause (although I do believe the walkouts are designed to support gun control) but I also believe many students will be just as happy to miss classes. Not cynical just a reality based on my own experiences.
I don’t believe someone who doesn’t support the method is “pro mass shootings”
I don’t believe schools, teachers or administrators should have to alter their lesson plans.
I believe students should make the decision to walk out based on their own beliefs and convictions.
I believe that students who do choose to walk out should also accept whatever consequences that come with that choice.
Straw that broke the camel’s back is my opinion. Better late than never. But you are trying to make this political now and I honestly don’t think it should be.
I think we may have finally reached a tipping point on this issue in public opinion.
"doschicos: It’s sad that some people view PROTEST as a four letter word. Whether it is this latest movement against the shootings and for safety for our children or other events over the past few years, I’ve heard and read comments from some people angry at those protesting. I don’t get it. Engagement is good for democracy. When voter apathy is so high as evidenced by the voter turnout rates, engagement should be applauded.
Our founding fathers would be pleased with protest, the exercising of one’s free speech, and the voicing of dissent by the people."
Except that is not at all the truth. NO ONE thinks protesting anything is wrong. Anyone who supports the Constitution supports the entire Constitution, not just the parts he likes.
It’s the selective use of protesting for unrelated reasons that is the issue.
You are against it? We could make the schools safer by the end of the day today - with security measures. In fact, some districts like ours have an increased police presence this week.
I was the first generation of students who grew up with active shooter drills. I was in 1st or 2nd grade when Columbine happened and we had shooter drills from then on.
I went to a “post-Columbine” high school that was built specifically to keep us safe from active shooters.
The young people now are even more entrenched in the fear and the drills. They’re saying enough. And if adults aren’t going to keep them safe, by damn they’re going to protect the next generation. I 100% support them and will do whatever I can to assist these young people.
4 million young people will be eligible to vote for the first time this year. 4 million more next year. And so on. A political force is coming and I’m on board.
@TranquilMind Actually, I have encountered people who think protesting is wrong. They are uncomfortable with it regardless of where they stand on issues. Some people are “rule followers” and do view it as disobedient, wasteful, etc. Many people in this country do pick and choose from the constitution all the time.
“It’s the selective use of protesting for unrelated reasons that is the issue.”
I’m not even sure what this means.
The teens themselves realize how ineffective the current security measures are, @yourmomma. The buzzers, a few additional police, security cameras-all are so easily defeated by a teen boy with an assault rifle. My kids know that, and so do their classmates. That is why they are protesting. Not enough. Never again.
There are local schools on lockdown as I write due to social media threats. Do you not think these lockdowns affect learning?
Regarding a walk out, these are conscientious young people trying to make a positive change and potentially save lives. Good for them.
“Emilybee:
I believe there are many who don’t care one bit about school children being mowed down by assault type weapons in schools (among other places people get mowed down.) If they cared there wouid have been stricter gun control legislation years ago. They only care about protecting their 2A rights no matter the cost in lives lost. They prove it after every mass shooting.”
That is complete nonsense. Repeated school shootings have been happening for DECADES and no one did anything, regardless of who was in office and how much power resided in one party. No one did anything to figure out what we have done to the kids to so disconnect them.
But now, it’s suddenly a major issue …after 2016.
@romanigypsyeye I totally agree. I work with a ton of high school students and they are so motivated to vote, so politically engaged. I’ve never seen anything like it before. My D’s school will be walking out as well. They have had a few walkouts before generally supported overall by the school district. I’m proud of them.
The issue is the schools condoning of walking out during the school day. If a public school condones a walk out for school safety, then they cannot discriminate or punish students who walk out for any other viewpoint: the MeToo movement, DACA, pro-life, pro-choice, Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, marijuana legalization,whatever.
I was about to say “straw that broke the camel’s back”…
Shame on us for not doing anything before. Those deaths are on us, really. But now we have to face our shame and inaction. We’ve gotten used to school shootings and accepted that no one would do anything.
These kids refuse our complacency because they almost died and lost classmates just a week ago, and they know it could happen again, anywhere. It could be anyone’s kid, it could be their brother or sister. If they stop, it will be someone’s kid, someone’s best friend, someone’s brother or sister, just as it is for them.
They are literally fighting for their lives. And in a few days they’ve made the status quo impossible.
Just minutes ago, Rick Scott, Florida’s governor, announced that now on one would have to be 21 or older to buy assault weapons and banned the sale of bump stocks in his state in case any angry boy with revenge fantasies tried to bypass that.
@yourmomma That’s the difference in how it is best to address it for long-lasting solutions not a bandaid fix. I’m completely supportive of school day forum/walkout/protest/assembly/whatever you want to call it to bring attention to the issue, which you seem to object to. Let’s allow the focus and the discussion instead of stopping it and squashing it. People deserve the time to reflect on it and voice their thoughts for a range of potential solutions not having one “fix” crammed down their throats.
Thank you for your voice, @romanigypsyeyes, a younger voice who is closer to the age of these students. I truly don’t understand how anyone could not agree with what you are saying. Let these students have their voice. Who cares about a class or two missed? We’ll all be better off with an engaged populace. That’s a bright light for our future.
I’ll just add, maybe it is because our HS has had its share of problems in the past, but it’s really a non-issue. We are very diverse. Old Principal used to say she had kids who would go to Yale and go to jail – 100% true.
Years ago it was pretty rough. They have cleaned it up since but problems still linger. Just a few years ago we had a gun pulled in the parking lot. Pointed at a friend of ours child. When he turned the perps in, they threatened him. So based on our history we have multiple security measures in place. From cameras to cops, to not being allowed (anyone, including non-students) to wear hoods. Threats are taken seriously and followed up on. They downplay it in public – they are called “incidents.” It’s a real no-nonsense approach and it seems to work for the most part.
Don’t know if I’m allowed in the parent cafe, but my private school is fully in support of the walk out, but of course it is not mandatory. We had a school “town hall” where students asked questions about how safe we really are, what comes next, things like that, and the administration was so great and understanding with all the questions and concerns we have. Most of my peers and I plan to walk out.
Parkland is an upper middle class school. There was a LOT of follow-up on that kid, from every possible avenue. Adults did not drop the ball.
The FBI is investigating which officer didn’t follow up on the tip or what happened. It’s an active investigation and while we’d like immediate results, I’d rather a thorough study than a harried, botched one (I’ve been what public pressure for immediate results does to an investigation. It’s very frustrating for the investigative forces.) Let us let them do their job and wait for their conclusions.
This has nothing to do with 2016 (for the record, a lot of Parkland parents are Republicans and support Donald Trump. Don’t confuse Parkland with the surrounding county.)
Perhaps the president could call for a national hour of silence or prayer for the victims in all high schools.