My Deal 8th grader wanted to participate and was upset by how the school handled it. I get it they didn't want hundreds of middle schoolers wandering the streets but they could have handled it better. My kid was super upset. The principle ended up having an assembly later on and my kid said it was helpful and productive.

My Deal 8th grader wanted to participate and was upset by how the school handled it. I get it they didn't want hundreds of middle schoolers wandering the streets but they could have handled it better. My kid was super upset. The principle ended up having an assembly later on and my kid said it was helpful and productive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give the Deal walkout more legitimate points because it sounds like it played out the way a real attempt at a protest.

If MCPS facilitated a walk around the building, that makes it a school sanctioned activity, and not really a protest, right?

I don't think it's really fair to fault the Deal staff for discouraging the walkout -- they are the school administration and it's their job to try to keep the kids in their classroom and teach them. And sounds like the students admirably tried to disobey and walk out multiple times. That took some courage even if they didn't "succeed", and they probably learned more about real civil disobedience.

Uh, so, are you basically saying that the MCPS example doesn't get street credit with you because....some kids actually had the professionalism and maturity to approach administration about their intent? You realize it was by no means required, right? The school just...said it was a good idea and tried to provide some support. Schools can't (and wouldn't) require something like that. Please tell me you're misunderstanding and not trying to have some weird 12 year old activism olympics contest?

I agree with you. Students at DCI did a walkout and they approached the Administration, who helped facilitate 21 minutes of silence. This may not be the Deal parent's definition of a real protest but I applaud DCI for giving their students a way to use their voice. Stop with the sour grapes about whether MS students had a "real" protest or not.

Anonymous wrote:I give the Deal walkout more legitimate points because it sounds like it played out the way a real attempt at a protest.

If MCPS facilitated a walk around the building, that makes it a school sanctioned activity, and not really a protest, right?

I don't think it's really fair to fault the Deal staff for discouraging the walkout -- they are the school administration and it's their job to try to keep the kids in their classroom and teach them. And sounds like the students admirably tried to disobey and walk out multiple times. That took some courage even if they didn't "succeed", and they probably learned more about real civil disobedience.

Uh, so, are you basically saying that the MCPS example doesn't get street credit with you because....some kids actually had the professionalism and maturity to approach administration about their intent? You realize it was by no means required, right? The school just...said it was a good idea and tried to provide some support. Schools can't (and wouldn't) require something like that. Please tell me you're misunderstanding and not trying to have some weird 12 year old activism olympics contest?

I have an 8th grader at Deal who wanted to participate in the protest. I don't blame the Deal Principal for refusing to allow it. She has to ensure the safety of students at school and she can't do that if they leave campus.

Anonymous wrote:I give the Deal walkout more legitimate points because it sounds like it played out the way a real attempt at a protest.

If MCPS facilitated a walk around the building, that makes it a school sanctioned activity, and not really a protest, right?

I don't think it's really fair to fault the Deal staff for discouraging the walkout -- they are the school administration and it's their job to try to keep the kids in their classroom and teach them. And sounds like the students admirably tried to disobey and walk out multiple times. That took some courage even if they didn't "succeed", and they probably learned more about real civil disobedience.

What? Was the women's march not real because it was sanctioned? Learning to use their voices is good and you don't need to defend you kids' experience as more good than a kid across town's.

I give the Deal walkout more legitimate points because it sounds like it played out the way a real attempt at a protest.

If MCPS facilitated a walk around the building, that makes it a school sanctioned activity, and not really a protest, right?

I don't think it's really fair to fault the Deal staff for discouraging the walkout -- they are the school administration and it's their job to try to keep the kids in their classroom and teach them. And sounds like the students admirably tried to disobey and walk out multiple times. That took some courage even if they didn't "succeed", and they probably learned more about real civil disobedience.

It was a real Students Demand Action Protest. That's too bad that the school told them it was "just a social media frenzy" if that is true.

Our MCPS middle school sent an email around 11:30 (from the principal) saying students came to her explaining their intent to walk out, so the school facilitated a 12-12:15 walkout around the building. I drove by on my way home around 12:25 and they were just heading in. Looks like tons of kids participated, and teachers (maybe law enforcement, not sure) were helping to facilitate and guard the perimeter.

This seems appropriate to me for MS, and I applaud the efforts and communications, especially on such quick turn around. TPMS, if you care.

When the people in Congress don't care about 6 year olds get shot in their classrooms (Sandy Hook) what on do you think a school walkout will accomplish???

Just got the update from my child who I picked up early. Apparently, the Deal teachers wouldn't let them - they said it turned into a giant game of pickle in the hallways. The kids then tried to scale the fence during recess. Most of the 8th grade refused to go back in after class. They were told repeatedly that it was just a Social Media frenzy and wasn't real. Maybe...but let them protest. Will they make a difference? Maybe not - but if all the kids in this country refused to go to school....

Anonymous wrote:Good for them.

+1

I hope my son participates, he didn’t mention it.

Anonymous wrote:Good for them.

+1

Students Demand Action called for a walkout today at noon. I'm sure it will happen at other schools, especially high schools, too. Kids are encouraged to work with their teachers and administrators and to publicize their actions.

https://studentsdemandaction.org/report/walkout-activation-toolkit/

Good for them.

FYI, Deal parents…the kids are doing a walk out in response to school shootings. My 8th grader just texted med asking for permission.