Why One Student Isn't Walking Out
Today, many students across America will leave their classrooms at 10 am to demand change when it comes to guns and school safety. In talking with educators, parents, and community members about National School Walkout Day, some believe this demonstration will do nothing, saying that it shows the entitlement of students who think they can do what they want, when they want. Others see it as a powerful demonstration of students banding together with a common goal. There are times where protesting, marching, and the like have been effective. The real question is, “Will this be effective in creating a change in school safety?”.
Comment and let me know your thoughts below.
I wanted to share a powerful story of a student who will not be walking out and he has a very good reason why.
You are right Jeff – it is powerful – imagine what would happen if students in each school did what you suggest.
we had over 37 kids walk out and they all got referrals why should we care f the schools dont
You need to see this from a teacher’s perspective. I don’t know that they should have given referrals or not, but the school is responsible for your safety while you are in their care. You and your friends may have just seen it as an opportunity to make a statement, or some may have seen it as just an excuse to run with the crowd and get out of class. Either way, imagine for a moment that there was someone contemplating coming into your school and shooting it up because they disagree with your views of gun control. Now you organize a protest and all walk out together at a scheduled time. That could have been many tragic moments if a shooter had decided to take advantage of your protest.
My point is, the school is in charge of keeping you safe. What you did could potentially have been unsafe and it was during school hours when you are still subject to school rules, which largely are in place to keep you and your classmates safe from dangers inside and outside of your school. You technically broke rules. They can punish appropriately.
Please understand that there is a price to be paid for civil disobedience. You may prove a point but it comes with a cost. In this case it was a referral. You have to decide if it’s worth the cost.
Truth! How insightful of the student and the suggestions that followed. If only more of us would really think things through before joining the crowd to do what? Get 17 mins out of class, have the news report our activity? What difference did it make? Really the question is, what difference will YOU make?
The difference is that when we talk to the teachers they dont listen but when we join together we get are voices heard and people listen it´s not that we want attention its that we want you to hear that we are children that need to be heard before something like this happens we are the new generation and we can make a difference with us protesting like this we make it known that we stand together to stop guns being brought to school and that we can make difference so that in the future we dont have shootings like this on the new
It is a movement made by children who were shot at and friends shot dead in school where as you say the children are supposed to be legally protected from harm and they failed. There is no diluted reason to end a movement where again nothing is done to protect the next school or event. Sorry, I am just n
ot buying it anymore. If we spend to protect public+ private airlines so effectively, it can be done for the schools too. True, it’s not the gun. But, there is no sense in allowing a troubled nut a gun with no training, mental and physical evaluation, and insurance just in case your kills someone. You can still have your 2nd amendment rights, and, people will be safer. Prepare school’s to react appropriately, and beef up security. Still, it’s people that kill, be aware of those that are a threat.
I don’t think that having walkouts will change school safety. Yes, it’s showing that students take the matter seriously, but it doesn’t mean that their school will do anything. I personally think if students at a school want to show how they feel about this, then the district should listen to what the students are saying, and they should try to do something to protect the students more effectively. If we “protest,” then it probably would have a bigger impact rather than just doing the walkouts.
There needs to be a change like for real. Now me, I’m not against gun control but I’m also for gun control. I have been around guns my whole life because my grandparents and my parents hunt but I do think that some guns should not be open to the public like an Assault Rifle or any gun like that. So when I did the walk out, I really did it to honor all the students that died on that dreadful day.
Jeff, I am a huge fan of yours. But this message you are sending out right now is unacceptable and dangerous. When women are victims of stalking do you tell them to stay and be nice? When women are victims of domestic abuse do you tell them to stay and be nice? When children are victims of sexual abuse or physical abuse do you tell them to stay and be nice? No. Because it is NOT the victim’s fault. Hopefully because of these horrors that have happened to victims, good people fight to have LAWS made or changed to protect them. These children aren’t being bullied – they are being murdered by mass shooters who have easy access to military weapons. Do not shame or blame innocent children who are literally fighting for their lives by peacefully protesting. This is how segregation ended – not by being nice – but by peacefully protesting an unacceptable horrific thing that was happening in our nation. Sandy Hook first graders did not deserve to be shot. They weren’t shot because they were mean. Same with Parkland kids. Same with innocent concert goers. Same with people at church. And on and on. Do not blame people who don’t want to be murdered by military weapons by saying they need to be nice. It is not their fault if they get slaughtered by a mass shooter. Gun laws need to be changed in this country. That will not happen by “being nice”. It will happen by getting legislators attention because they are the ones who make laws – and showing them that We the People demand a change. These kids who walked out to save lives are heroes who are taking action to change laws. And every single day – when I drive my children to school we pray and talk about being a light of kindness to everyone we encounter (students, staff, volunteers), particularly to those who are alone. Every. Single. Day. Being kind & peacefully protesting to demand needed change are not mutually exclusive. Do both. But you must stop shaming those who want to be safe in their schools and are willing to exercise their 1st amendment right by peacefully walking out and protesting to let congress know about it. I guarantee my high school daughter has learned more about laws, her rights, the 1st amendment, and being a voice for change because of her experience leading up to and participating in the walkout.
Julie, thanks for joining the conversation. Please re-read my post and listen to the audio clip. You’ll notice that I did not take a stance on the walkout but rather shared a student and teacher’s perspective.
I have seen victim blaming going on in regards to this and it is unacceptable. No one asks to be shot or is responsible for the actions of another. I see many students that wanted to pay respects, demand change, and share their fear in regards to school violence. Some have been violent during protests or seen it as a way just to skip class. My guess is that this does not represent the majority.
The “Love Changes It All” weekly blog and radio features teach how we can take issues impacting youth today and view them as opportunities to show love. This was one student seeing an opportunity to show love and the reason why his story was shared. I hope that you’ll take a chance to review what was shared. My end call-to-action is the same as I give each week, which is to find an opportunity to show love. I understand how this could be misconstrued, given the context. For that, I apologize.