Hellobee Boards

As a social studies teacher, I 110% support their right to do this and really hoped my students would push for the opportunity (I don't think they did.... I'm on maternity leave.) I would have tried to subtly open up the conversation if I was teaching, and advocated for them with admin if admin threatened consequences.

Also, as an 8th grade teacher, I cover the American Revolution (heavy on protest), government & civics, then the 1940s-1970s. I know it's a weird history spectrum, but those are my state standards. Anyway, protests and rights are a big thematic focus with those units.

Student protests can be very effective - think Birmingham Children's Crusade, Vietnam War protests, White Rose Society, and even many of the Boston Tea partiers were young.

And, also, I am a teacher that is known for being very militantly protective of our instructional time. As for logistics, in my hometown high school, they rearranged the schedule to have "homeroom" during that time. At my school, I would have made an alternative schedule and moved up our RTI & homeroom time to make things work.

Our state governor came to speak at the local High School in support. I would absolutely support my kid participating if I had a teenager. I’m really hoping that this is finally the generation that can create change. I hate that one day my son will have to participate in active shooter drills, it’s horrifying that people care more about keeping their guns safe than their kids.

Well first of all, I would want my child to engage with me in a dialogue about their feelings and thoughts on the issue. I would want to know that they are informed and in support of a position based on their conscience and not just to mess around or because of peer pressure. If I felt that either of our sons had a strong and educated opinion about the matter, I would support their decision to engage in a peaceful civil protest. However, I would want them to also respectfully engage with their teachers and administrators about it too. I’d want them to inform their teachers of their intent to protest in advance and I would give my parental permission to do it if necessary, but I would also make sure my kids understood that sometimes standing up for what you believe in can cost you something - which might be points off for participation or missing a quiz if the school or teacher decided not to be supportive of the protest. I think it would be an extremely educational experience, but again, I would want to impress upon them the need to be civil, respectful, and well-informed and not to get riled up with passion alone.

@erinbaderin: Agree!

The majority of schools in our area participated, and quite a few made the news. I 100% would support my children participating in this, if it was for the right reasons and not just to get out of class.

My district is on spring break, so they were unable to walk out, they did have one the day after Parklnd as we are 1 hr North, and have colleges at that school that the kids know

I woukd 100% support them, I know some are doing it more for the reason of following and to "post" on social.media, but to me it might be there window into seeing the bigger picture, also maybe letting the few that feel alone that they are apart of something and can make a change!

I teach 1st so they wouldn't understand, but if I taught a grade that was walking out I'd support them, 100%!

Schools in my county actually were featured on CNN for not supporting the walk out. As a parent, I would whole heartedly defend my child’s right to walk out and protest for change to the gun laws.

My step-daughter was on spring break yet so it was a non-issue. If she had wanted to walk out, and understood what she was walking out for, I would support it.

At the same time, I would appreciate more the idea of spending 17 minutes talking to someone new, or someone who is a loner, or 'different'. I think bullying and 'cliques' in schools is a huge issue, and one in which each student can make a difference right now.
My SD is an athlete, and just tried out and made the school play, she's excited to get to meet a whole new group of people that she's never talked to, so I appreciate that sentiment more than anything.

@josina: I have to disagree pretty vehemently about that. I don't think it's up to us adults to tell these students how they "should" protest. There's no reason students can't protest gun violence through a walkout, and then work on school bullying through "being nice to someone new"

Personally, I feel like a lot of those shared FB articles about "walk up, not walk out" were a concerted efford to undermine the protests. It's sad that so many adults bought into it, but not surprising. It's not an either/or situation.

I went to the Women's March. My participation there didn't mean that I wasn't *also* supporting legal immigrants who were being denied entry, and didn't mean that I wasn't donating to campaigns and getting involved in a myriad of other ways.

It seemed like a smear campaign. If a group of students want to organize a "walk up"--cool. have them work with their school administration for a different day than the day of the walkout for gun violence.

@Anagram: I never said it was an either/or, and I actually said I was supportive if she had wanted to walk out. I agree with both, and I think the idea of the 'walk up' should be an ongoing thing.

In my district ( I teach MS) we supported the student walk out (we’re in NY). Students needed a signed permission slip to participate. We had over 400 students participate!!! So awesome!

@erinbaderin: Yes! This exactly!

My area supported the walk out and so many teens walked out of the schools. I would encourage my daughter when she's older to walk out regardless of the schools "consequences".

The high school I went to had a lot of participation. One of the students posted about it on our alumni page, and I was very impressed. Even more so when I read that it was organized by the student government, young democrats and teenage republicans. The fact that they had bipartisan support puts them ahead of our own government...

@erinbaderin: Totally agree!

I saw a few people on Facebook posting the #walkupnotout stuff and it really bothers me. I am 100 percent in favor of encouraging kids to be kind and community building. But the problem with that movement is that it a) assumes that kids aren't already being nice b) assumes that a kid sitting quietly alone at lunch is lonely and/or apt to shoot kids over it. Some people like to be alone sometimes, and that's OK! and most importantly, c) places blame on kids for previous shootings. i.e. if only they had been "nicer" the shootings wouldn't have happened, which is absurd. This isn't happening because kids aren't "nice" enough. It's essentially victim-blaming.

@MrsSCB: I get where you're coming from but I think it's possible to say that teens might not be at *fault* for the breakdown of community, mental illness going unnoticed, bullying being perpetuated in school, etc. but they still have the power to address it and change it. Same could be said about gun laws, background checks, etc. I think adults in this country could use a walk up not out too, (even more than the kids tbh) but we seem to have lost our ability to have honest conversations without everyone getting offended and (figuratively) stomping off. People's egos are so damn inflated!!

@MrsSCB: I think they're two related issues. I think it's ridiculous to think just being nice is THE answer. But I don't think there is just one single answer so it doesn't hurt. I guess in a way it's a little different for me than many of you bc I live in a state with already pretty strict gun laws.