Principal's congratulatory message about walk-out

[Anonymous]

We just received from our middle school Principal, and I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised that the administration took the walk-out so seriously and with such respect for the students. I've heard that in other parts of the country, students were not given leave to do anything, or were given 5 day suspensions for a 17 minutes walk-out.

"Today, almost 600 of our
students participated in the national school walkout and a 17-minute
moment of silence to commemorate the 17 victims of the Parkland, Florida
school shooting one month ago and to demonstrate against gun violence.
I want you to know that I could not have been more proud of how our students
comported themselves during this peaceful walkout under adult supervision.
To witness them walking through the halls without making a sound. Then to see
them assembled outside, standing gracefully beneath our flags for 17 minutes
in complete silence was extremely moving. Your children are amazing and I am
confident that as they continue to mature and move into positions of leadership,
the future of our nation will be in great hands. Good night."

[Anonymous]

Barf. "Teens today" are also the ones responsible for a lot of these shootings-- not sure we want "the future of our nation" in the shooters' "great hands."

If they wanted to do something moving..... organize a trash pick up. Organize a campaign to write to lawmakers. Stage a peaceful "walk in" at a gun show ON A WEEKEND.

[Anonymous]

That's beautiful, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Barf. "Teens today" are also the ones responsible for a lot of these shootings-- not sure we want "the future of our nation" in the shooters' "great hands."

If they wanted to do something moving..... organize a trash pick up. Organize a campaign to write to lawmakers. Stage a peaceful "walk in" at a gun show ON A WEEKEND.

here's a fine line between supporting and endorsing. They crossed it.

I have spent 26 years raising children. I have always gone out of my way to make sure my kids don't miss any school. It's been hammered into our brains how every day/hour/minute of classroom instruction time is extremely important. Then they cave in to this and lose all credibility with me.

Suddenly, my Disney trip when the airline rates are low doesn't sound like such a bad idea after all.

[Anonymous]

So what do kids accomplish by not going to class?

Please state some specific goal or action. Not, hey civil disobedience. Because like, politics and stuff.

What specific outcome are the *kids* seeking? Not, better laws. That is not an outcome. It;s not specific.

I highly doubt any of the kids who participated can discuss types of guns, how to use them, what regulations are in place, process for purchasing, and the true meaning of the 2nd amendment. For example: Ask them the historical meaning of the terms "well-regulated" and "militia." I guarantee that they do NOT know.

And if they can't have those discussions UNPROMPTED by adults with an agenda, they had no business walking out as they don't know what they were protesting or supporting or whatever it is the walkout was supposed to do.

[Anonymous]

So what do kids accomplish by not going to class?

At a minimum, they have kept the conversation about gun violence going. Evidence? This thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I have spent 26 years raising children. I have always gone out of my way to make sure my kids don't miss any school. It's been hammered into our brains how every day/hour/minute of classroom instruction time is extremely important. Then they cave in to this and lose all credibility with me.

Suddenly, my Disney trip when the airline rates are low doesn't sound like such a bad idea after all.

Oh please. Your kids' schools never did a pep rally? Fundraiser assembly? Dance as a reward for good behavior?

Go ahead and take your Disney trip for Pete's sake. Kids can spare 17 minutes for a lockdown drill, they can spare 17 minutes to raise awareness for the need for gun control.

[Anonymous]

So what is the school going to do when kids want to make other political statements and protests? Because they’re effectively endorsing a political stance. Ya know, free speech and all, so when some kids want to walk out against gun restrictions, or against gay marriage, or in favor or building the wall, I assume they will be treated as fairly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So what do kids accomplish by not going to class?

At a minimum, they have kept the conversation about gun violence going. Evidence? This thread.

In high school? a TON. Half the school will be 18 the next presidential election, and they are not a demographic that votes in high numbers. If politicians see that they are organized and motivated and that the gun control is an issue that will get the registered and to show up to vote? They will start to be influenced. You better believe it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barf. "Teens today" are also the ones responsible for a lot of these shootings-- not sure we want "the future of our nation" in the shooters' "great hands."

If they wanted to do something moving..... organize a trash pick up. Organize a campaign to write to lawmakers. Stage a peaceful "walk in" at a gun show ON A WEEKEND.

here's a fine line between supporting and endorsing. They crossed it.

I have spent 26 years raising children. I have always gone out of my way to make sure my kids don't miss any school. It's been hammered into our brains how every day/hour/minute of classroom instruction time is extremely important. Then they cave in to this and lose all credibility with me.

Suddenly, my Disney trip when the airline rates are low doesn't sound like such a bad idea after all.

Why would you ever teach your children that. Life is about so much more than sitting in a classroom. Identity and self worth is about so much more than academic achievement. Be responsible yes. Be militant about school = no. I think family trips are well worth the time off assuming the kids aren't already behind or failing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what is the school going to do when kids want to make other political statements and protests? Because they’re effectively endorsing a political stance. Ya know, free speech and all, so when some kids want to walk out against gun restrictions, or against gay marriage, or in favor or building the wall, I assume they will be treated as fairly?

Sure, that happens. If it is just for a brief period of time, usually there aren't consequences. If they decide to walk out and leave, it is treated like cutting class.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/us/teenagers-protest-a-transgender-students-use-of-the-girls-bathroom.html

More than 100 students at Hillsboro High School, about an hour south of St Louis, walked out of class on Monday in protest.

The protesting students assembled outside the school for about two hours. Mr. Cornman said he did not believe any of them were penalized.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/students-walk-out-to-protest-transgender-policy/

More than two dozen students briefly walked out of class Monday at Green Mountain Union High School to protest what they called discriminatory treatment of a transgender student.

The students were protesting the school administration telling the student, who identifies as a boy, to use a gender-neutral bathroom, one of six in the school, rather than the boys’ bathroom, according to Superintendent Bruce Williams.

(If the students returned to class after 30 minutes, they were not disciplined, but if they stayed out the rest of the day, they faced detention for cutting school)

[Anonymous]

The ACLU has information if you are interested:

https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/student-speech-and-privacy/can-schools-discipline-students-protesting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So what do kids accomplish by not going to class?

At a minimum, they have kept the conversation about gun violence going. Evidence? This thread.

In high school? a TON. Half the school will be 18 the next presidential election, and they are not a demographic that votes in high numbers. If politicians see that they are organized and motivated and that the gun control is an issue that will get the registered and to show up to vote? They will start to be influenced. You better believe it.

Theoretically but it will have no effect bc it will happen in states that are already blue. I have nieces/nephews in the Midwest -- Nebraska, Kansas etc. -- NO ONE walked out. Their schools even said they wouldn't be punished and yet they didn't. Bc they grew up around gun culture and in their peers' eyes, voting in any politician supporting gun control is shooting your own self in the foot if you can't get the gun of your choice at 18. So this whole -- OMG it's SOOOOO important bc these kids will be 18 by Nov. -- yeah well those kids live in NY, MD. NJ, etc., places that are already blue. It won't even matter for purple places -- for every one kid in Pa. who is for gun control, there are 2-3 that are taking the first day of hunting season off to go shooting with their dads and ain't no way they want to elect someone who will take away/make it harder to get ANY kind of gun, whether they own that one or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barf. "Teens today" are also the ones responsible for a lot of these shootings-- not sure we want "the future of our nation" in the shooters' "great hands."

If they wanted to do something moving..... organize a trash pick up. Organize a campaign to write to lawmakers. Stage a peaceful "walk in" at a gun show ON A WEEKEND.

here's a fine line between supporting and endorsing. They crossed it.

I have spent 26 years raising children. I have always gone out of my way to make sure my kids don't miss any school. It's been hammered into our brains how every day/hour/minute of classroom instruction time is extremely important. Then they cave in to this and lose all credibility with me.

Suddenly, my Disney trip when the airline rates are low doesn't sound like such a bad idea after all.

Ouch. You spent 26 years raising your children wrong if you taught them that attendance in school matters more than anything else. You have my pity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So what do kids accomplish by not going to class?

At a minimum, they have kept the conversation about gun violence going. Evidence? This thread.

In high school? a TON. Half the school will be 18 the next presidential election, and they are not a demographic that votes in high numbers. If politicians see that they are organized and motivated and that the gun control is an issue that will get the registered and to show up to vote? They will start to be influenced. You better believe it.

Theoretically but it will have no effect bc it will happen in states that are already blue. I have nieces/nephews in the Midwest -- Nebraska, Kansas etc. -- NO ONE walked out. Their schools even said they wouldn't be punished and yet they didn't. Bc they grew up around gun culture and in their peers' eyes, voting in any politician supporting gun control is shooting your own self in the foot if you can't get the gun of your choice at 18. So this whole -- OMG it's SOOOOO important bc these kids will be 18 by Nov. -- yeah well those kids live in NY, MD. NJ, etc., places that are already blue. It won't even matter for purple places -- for every one kid in Pa. who is for gun control, there are 2-3 that are taking the first day of hunting season off to go shooting with their dads and ain't no way they want to elect someone who will take away/make it harder to get ANY kind of gun, whether they own that one or not.

The majority of gun owners are in favor of stronger background checks and other common sense gun reforms, so I’m not sure that your argument about hunters and “purple places” makes much sense, but thanks for the anecdote