What is the student walkout for on 11/29 at Sherwood?

[Anonymous]

The school made an announcement to students today that they will be marked absent and potentially face other consequences if they walkout/miss class.

If they cancel advisory, that means they go from class to class—and would presumably be marked absent if they don’t show up in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is clear from all the discussion here that schools need to get back to teaching the basics. MCPS is great at promoting "justice" but it's not great at teaching kids how to read or do math.

I think the First Amendment is pretty basic.

Sure. There's learning about it and then there's encouraging students to become activists for leftist causes. The first is great. The second...not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is clear from all the discussion here that schools need to get back to teaching the basics. MCPS is great at promoting "justice" but it's not great at teaching kids how to read or do math.

I think the First Amendment is pretty basic.

Sure. There's learning about it and then there's encouraging students to become activists for leftist causes. The first is great. The second...not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school made an announcement to students today that they will be marked absent and potentially face other consequences if they walkout/miss class.

If they cancel advisory, that means they go from class to class—and would presumably be marked absent if they don’t show up in class.

Why were the students at Clarksburg allowed to have excused absences for their recent walkout but this walkout will be unexcused? The code of conduct says they should be unexcused, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the school sanctioning this?

Sherwood Community, Prior to our Thankssiving Break, students approached administration to propose a student walkout during Advisory on November 29, 2023. The students were informed of MCPS BOE regulation which permits
students to demonstrate peacetully regarding social and political issues Please note this action is not approved or supported by Sherwood High School or MCPS and students walking out of class will receive an unexcused absence and the MCPS Code of Conduct and Student
Culture of Respect apply to student protests. I have also spoken with walkout organizers and they are well aware of the intensity of opinions on both sides of the current conflict in Gaza and Israel and are avoiding specific phrases and slogans which could be hurtful or derogatory against other members of our
community. It a walkout takes place, proper satety and security measures will be in place. There will not be an Advisory period on Wednesday, November 29th. Staff, students, and families are highly encouraged to have discussions based on our No Place for Hate messaging. This messaging
coincides with our "One Sherwood" Pillars of Civility. Accountability, Rigor, and Engagement.

I would just like to point out the following:
There has been enormous debate and activism regarding books within the curriculum that contain LGBTQ characters. Many community members, notably from various backgrounds but primarily Muslim, have requested the ability to opt their children out of reading these books because it is in conflict with their religious or personal values. It has been the position of MCPS Central office and the BOE that families may not opt their children out of reading these books, because the act of opting out is not neutral: it causes actual harm to the LGBTQ students who are made to feel “othered” or vulnerable if their fellow students opt out of reading books with characters that reflect who they are. Why, then, is it not the position of MCPS that a walk out on this topic might not leave certain students feeling very “othered” when their classmates walk out and take a particular position with regard to this conflict? Do we only protect certain students or groups based on a liberal hierarchy of perceived suffering? I hope that the school has support in place for the students who this walk out may harm or leave feeling unsafe.

Yes. It's called the pyramid of oppression, a concept born of intersectional critical theory. But relax everyone. I have it on good authority that cRt iS oNlY tAuGhT iN LaW sChOoL.

Your keyboard is acting up again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the school sanctioning this?

Yes. I’m not Jewish, but I don’t think this is a good idea. Kids can organize a walk-out or a protest or whatever on their own time. MCPS should not be supporting walkouts on either side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the school sanctioning this?

Sherwood Community, Prior to our Thankssiving Break, students approached administration to propose a student walkout during Advisory on November 29, 2023. The students were informed of MCPS BOE regulation which permits
students to demonstrate peacetully regarding social and political issues Please note this action is not approved or supported by Sherwood High School or MCPS and students walking out of class will receive an unexcused absence and the MCPS Code of Conduct and Student
Culture of Respect apply to student protests. I have also spoken with walkout organizers and they are well aware of the intensity of opinions on both sides of the current conflict in Gaza and Israel and are avoiding specific phrases and slogans which could be hurtful or derogatory against other members of our
community. It a walkout takes place, proper satety and security measures will be in place. There will not be an Advisory period on Wednesday, November 29th. Staff, students, and families are highly encouraged to have discussions based on our No Place for Hate messaging. This messaging
coincides with our "One Sherwood" Pillars of Civility. Accountability, Rigor, and Engagement.

I would just like to point out the following:
There has been enormous debate and activism regarding books within the curriculum that contain LGBTQ characters. Many community members, notably from various backgrounds but primarily Muslim, have requested the ability to opt their children out of reading these books because it is in conflict with their religious or personal values. It has been the position of MCPS Central office and the BOE that families may not opt their children out of reading these books, because the act of opting out is not neutral: it causes actual harm to the LGBTQ students who are made to feel “othered” or vulnerable if their fellow students opt out of reading books with characters that reflect who they are. Why, then, is it not the position of MCPS that a walk out on this topic might not leave certain students feeling very “othered” when their classmates walk out and take a particular position with regard to this conflict? Do we only protect certain students or groups based on a liberal hierarchy of perceived suffering? I hope that the school has support in place for the students who this walk out may harm or leave feeling unsafe.

Yes. It's called the pyramid of oppression, a concept born of intersectional critical theory. But relax everyone. I have it on good authority that cRt iS oNlY tAuGhT iN LaW sChOoL.

Your keyboard is acting up again.

Alternating caps are typically used to display mockery in text messages. In this case, I was mocking progressives for trying to sell that lie even though we all saw it being taught when school was virtual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just received a letter from the school about the planned student walkout—which neglects to say what it is for. It’s related to Israel/Gaza, but it doesn’t say what the goal of the walkout is.

Peace?

Taking sides? If so, which side?

Anyone know?

I just got it and checked on Instagram. It’s put on by the Muslim student association. So yes, they are taking And it’s pro Palestine. Interesting that there is no walk out when all of the hostages were taken and hundreds of people slaughtered by Hamas.

That’s what I suspected.

As a parent of a Jewish student, this is disappointing.

FTR, I’m our home, our stance is this:

All terrorism is bad.

Hamas is a terror group that attacked innocent civilians.

Innocent Palestinians are now suffering thanks to Hamas—and historically have suffered since Israel and Palestinians can’t seem to get along (despite years of attempts to negotiate).

It’s all terrible. And there’s no end in sight.

I’d rather see civil discourse on peacemaking than what looks like a pointless juvenile stunt that inevitably will prompt something negative.

This is the direct result of progressives taking control of MCPS and bringing critical theory into the curriculum. Palestinians are seen as the oppressed and, therefore can do no wrong.

Can't really blame the kids. Since they've been in the school system, they've been told they need to stand up to injustice and engage in political action like protests, walk outs. In their eyes, they are fighting "white supremacist culture" and "colonizers." At their PD on 10/9, teachers were told they need to promote these type of student actions to change society. Don't blame the kids, blame MCPS central office for promoting, encouraging and allowing this to happen.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just received a letter from the school about the planned student walkout—which neglects to say what it is for. It’s related to Israel/Gaza, but it doesn’t say what the goal of the walkout is.

Peace?

Taking sides? If so, which side?

Anyone know?

I just got it and checked on Instagram. It’s put on by the Muslim student association. So yes, they are taking And it’s pro Palestine. Interesting that there is no walk out when all of the hostages were taken and hundreds of people slaughtered by Hamas.

That’s what I suspected.

As a parent of a Jewish student, this is disappointing.

FTR, I’m our home, our stance is this:

All terrorism is bad.

Hamas is a terror group that attacked innocent civilians.

Innocent Palestinians are now suffering thanks to Hamas—and historically have suffered since Israel and Palestinians can’t seem to get along (despite years of attempts to negotiate).

It’s all terrible. And there’s no end in sight.

I’d rather see civil discourse on peacemaking than what looks like a pointless juvenile stunt that inevitably will prompt something negative.

This is the direct result of progressives taking control of MCPS and bringing critical theory into the curriculum. Palestinians are seen as the oppressed and, therefore can do no wrong.

Can't really blame the kids. Since they've been in the school system, they've been told they need to stand up to injustice and engage in political action like protests, walk outs. In their eyes, they are fighting "white supremacist culture" and "colonizers." At their PD on 10/9, teachers were told they need to promote these type of student actions to change society. Don't blame the kids, blame MCPS central office for promoting, encouraging and allowing this to happen.

Agree.

Why would we 'blame' anyone for teaching kids to stand up for injustice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the school sanctioning this?

Yes. I’m not Jewish, but I don’t think this is a good idea. Kids can organize a walk-out or a protest or whatever on their own time. MCPS should not be supporting walkouts on either side.

MCPS is not supporting walkouts on any side.

[Anonymous]

Hamas is a terrorist organization, Palestine voted to put them in power, not sure why people can't connect the dots

[Anonymous]

Hamas is a terrorist organization, we all know that. We all feel terrible ( I assume) for what happened in Israel.
However, the Israel government shouldn’t have the right to bomb Palestine civilians to the hell they are now living.
The Gaza Strip is a nightmare when it’s not being being bombed. It’s terrible for the people that live there. That’s what the protest is about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hamas is a terrorist organization, we all know that. We all feel terrible ( I assume) for what happened in Israel.
However, the Israel government shouldn’t have the right to bomb Palestine civilians to the hell they are now living.
The Gaza Strip is a nightmare when it’s not being being bombed. It’s terrible for the people that live there. That’s what the protest is about.

Why isn’t the protest also about Hamas then? Since Hamas triggered the war and supports it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just received a letter from the school about the planned student walkout—which neglects to say what it is for. It’s related to Israel/Gaza, but it doesn’t say what the goal of the walkout is.

Peace?

Taking sides? If so, which side?

Anyone know?

I just got it and checked on Instagram. It’s put on by the Muslim student association. So yes, they are taking And it’s pro Palestine. Interesting that there is no walk out when all of the hostages were taken and hundreds of people slaughtered by Hamas.

That’s what I suspected.

As a parent of a Jewish student, this is disappointing.

FTR, I’m our home, our stance is this:

All terrorism is bad.

Hamas is a terror group that attacked innocent civilians.

Innocent Palestinians are now suffering thanks to Hamas—and historically have suffered since Israel and Palestinians can’t seem to get along (despite years of attempts to negotiate).

It’s all terrible. And there’s no end in sight.

I’d rather see civil discourse on peacemaking than what looks like a pointless juvenile stunt that inevitably will prompt something negative.

PP, with all due respect, your opinions and beliefs about Israel, Palestine, Gaza, and Hamas are not relevant to the student walkout at Sherwood, because you're not a student at Sherwood.

As for walkouts in general, MCPS has policies, and I trust the Sherwood administrators will follow them.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just received a letter from the school about the planned student walkout—which neglects to say what it is for. It’s related to Israel/Gaza, but it doesn’t say what the goal of the walkout is.

Peace?

Taking sides? If so, which side?

Anyone know?

I just got it and checked on Instagram. It’s put on by the Muslim student association. So yes, they are taking And it’s pro Palestine. Interesting that there is no walk out when all of the hostages were taken and hundreds of people slaughtered by Hamas.

That’s what I suspected.

As a parent of a Jewish student, this is disappointing.

FTR, I’m our home, our stance is this:

All terrorism is bad.

Hamas is a terror group that attacked innocent civilians.

Innocent Palestinians are now suffering thanks to Hamas—and historically have suffered since Israel and Palestinians can’t seem to get along (despite years of attempts to negotiate).

It’s all terrible. And there’s no end in sight.

I’d rather see civil discourse on peacemaking than what looks like a pointless juvenile stunt that inevitably will prompt something negative.

This is the direct result of progressives taking control of MCPS and bringing critical theory into the curriculum. Palestinians are seen as the oppressed and, therefore can do no wrong.

Can't really blame the kids. Since they've been in the school system, they've been told they need to stand up to injustice and engage in political action like protests, walk outs. In their eyes, they are fighting "white supremacist culture" and "colonizers." At their PD on 10/9, teachers were told they need to promote these type of student actions to change society. Don't blame the kids, blame MCPS central office for promoting, encouraging and allowing this to happen.

Agree.

Why would we 'blame' anyone for teaching kids to stand up for injustice?

Because that can easily be politicized. And if students have been brainwashed by far left politics as they have been here in MoCo, it leads to things like students protesting in favor of Hamas, a terrorist organization.