National Walkout Day March 14 at 10am

LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN · Mar 13, 2018

As long a parent permission slip was signed, our district is also allowing elementary and middle schoolers to participate and walk to a designated large group area in the school. (Parents will NOT be present)

BeckyESRN · Mar 13, 2018

Our superintendent just sent us an email about this very thing. I can't say it better than she did, so I'm just going to quote her; "Regardless of position or point of view, I am inspired by hearing our students' voices and their desire to take an active role as citizens. We will not prohibit students from walking out; they have a right to peacefully protest and except for the natural consequences of missing approximately 17 minutes of class, assuming they return to class following the walk out, the District will not issue sanctions."

I have seen a lot of "they're too young" rhetoric around it and that's disappointing. These kids are the ones effected by school shootings. Yes, in many ways they are "too young", too young to confront death, to young to witness such violence, too young to be subjected to the hatred of adults, but not too young to speak-up and not too young to effect change. I was reading the victims statement on what they witnessed at Stoneman Douglas and, as heart wrenching as every single one of them was, the one line that struck me most was the student's name followed by "age 14". 14! These are babies, my goodness, they should be worrying about homework and dances and sports, not being murdered in school -not ever.

WineRN · Mar 13, 2018

Our district sent out a really wonderful letter last week that explained how we respect both the students who wish to use the right to peacefully protest and students who do not want to participate in the protests. For students participating, it will be monitored by staff who have volunteered and has a start and end time. Those students who choose to remain outside after the end time will then be marked absent for whatever periods they miss. Any student involved in the damage of property or violence will be dealing with the campus SRO/local law enforcement.

I personally am a bit nervous because there are reports in most of my district high schools of groups of students who will be walking out in support of their right to bear arms. I don't want to think about those two groups clashing.

OldDude · Mar 13, 2018

They can peacefully organize and voice whatever opinion they have...on their own time. I do not condone such an action during school hours.

OldDude · Mar 13, 2018

I told my teenagers if you want to call attention to the solution for school shootings getting together and shouting "No more guns!" isn't the answer. Instead of putting your effort into such a fantasy, instead look to real solutions like school security, mechanisms to identify and intervene in mental and social health issues that run rampant in school. More innocent children are killed in automobile crashes each year than school shootings so why isn't there massive protests from the kids..."No more cars!" These kids are caught up in the emotion of this terrible recent tragedy and letting them vent is quite therapeutic but please try to steer them into the general area of reality.

I've said it on here before and I'll say it again...regardless of your opinion - the guns are here to stay. Guns will never be removed from the US public hands.

Oldmahubbard · Mar 13, 2018

I told my teenagers if you want to call attention to the solution for school shootings getting together and shouting "No more guns!" isn't the answer. Instead of putting your effort into such a fantasy, instead look to real solutions like school security, mechanisms to identify and intervene in mental and social health issues that run rampant in school. More innocent children are killed in automobile crashes each year than school shootings so why isn't there massive protests from the kids..."No more cars!" These kids are caught up in the emotion of this terrible recent tragedy and letting them vent is quite therapeutic but please try to steer them into the general area of reality.
I've said it on here before and I'll say it again...regardless of your opinion - the guns are here to stay. Guns will never be removed from the US public hands.

But certain types of guns should not be legally sold.

OldDude · Mar 13, 2018

But certain types of guns should not be legally sold.

Totally agree...automatic weapons have been illegal for the public for years.

redheadrn99 · Mar 13, 2018

Thank you for sharing that Becky....beautifully said.

Eleven011 · Mar 13, 2018

I don't expect any activity here. Rural America isn't where you find protests about gun violence.

guest416560 · Mar 13, 2018

My brother and I are taking my niece and nephew out to the shooting range tomorrow to teach them how to handle a weapon properly and how to defend themselves with a firearm if attacked. We both belong to the NRA and will let the kids shoot our semi-automatic AR rifles tomorrow. FWIW AR stands for Armor Lite, the original manufacturer of the rifle seen on TV so often, not assault rifle. I don't want my extended family to be victims of a gun crime without any defense to protect themselves. I'm going to make sure all of them know how to shoot back. We will then begin the process of getting them a conceal and carry permit. That's how they will protest tomorrow.

mejsp · Mar 14, 2018

Your superintendent's words were very moving, Becky ESRN. Thank you for sharing this.