In addition to honoring the victims, the purpose of the walkout is to get the government to make changes to gun policies.
The above quote is in response to Post #68 about students leaving school to go to the shooting range. I’m not sure how other schools are handling it, but the principal at D’s school has said that since it is a PUBLIC school, the students are free to protest on school grounds. But, if they leave school grounds, they will be considered truant if caught. Students with opposing views will be granted different areas on the grounds to make their voices heard. Media will be called.
Am I the only one that finds the idea of officially sanctioned protests problematic?
Just to play devil’s advocate (for the easily offended, I don’t necessarily subscribe to this point of view, but am advancing it to clarify my point), what if a student walked out of school to protest FOR the second amendment, or FOR the deportation of illegals, or to attend a Trump rally? Would the college be similarly supportive of the right to blow off school for a protest? Or is it just officially OK’d virtuous protests? Is there a list of approved things/issues to protest, and who makes up that list?
I agree, not incompatible. But I am uncomfortable with educational authorities saying that x protest will not be penalised while y protest might be. This being said, I agree that it is far better to have walkouts supervised, rather than masses of teenagers in the streets.
I don’t think anyone has said any different protest will be treated differently. This protest also has a clear obvious nexus to school, since children are being killed while at school, and it is for their safety while there that protests are occuring.
“But to be honest, I think there are better ways of ending it than having students walk out of class. I understand the need to do something, anything. But I can’t believe that having tens of thousands of high school kids miss 3rd period will change a thing.”
This is a very sad thing for me to read, and does not align with what I think are proper priorities. Also, it is disproved by the very existence of a 6 page and counting thread, which I do not think would have occurred if any of those “better ways” had been tried. It’s getting attention other things have not and it is making sure it is not forgotten again until the next tragic event.
These high school kids are accomplishing something many before them have tried and failed. If what my kids learn is that they can be part of a thing that makes a difference, that certainly is more valuable than any one thing they can learn in that 3rd period. It’s not even close, and a ridiculous comparison.
Our school had a great idea. The walkout occurs the last 10 minutes of a class, and students also give up 7 minutes of their break between classes, for the full 17 min walkout. Everyone sacrifices just a little bit.
During my senior year of high school last year, there was a senior anti-trump protest, and the school administration made the smart decision to neither support nor penalize the students (skipping class didn’t usually end in detention anyway). The principal privately told the protesters he was on their side (which one could also argue against) but did not want to turn the school into a political safety net for some.
Also do you all really believe this is just to honor the victims? Are they trying to get congress to act, or are they trying to get congress to implement ONE specific solution that one political standpoint sees as the right solution. My impression would be the latter.
Our HS will simply mark the kids absent. Just like if they skipped. There is no discipline for that. I doubt any teacher will have a test or quiz that period.
In response to protests on gun violence, the College has released the following statement:
“Colby College values freedom of expression and encourages thoughtful, peaceful dissent. Our community of scholars and learners is strongest when we are passionate about ideas and issues and committed to the pursuit of truth. We seek applicants who will thrive intellectually in this environment and develop the habits of mind and skills to make a difference in their chosen fields.
Therefore, applicants to Colby will not be adversely affected in the admissions process if they have engaged in peaceful, respectful protests, such as those occurring now on the issue of gun violence, even if they have received school discipline for these actions.”
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Notre Dame respects a student’s right to participate in peaceful protests and demonstrations. Students will not be negatively impacted in our admissions process if they choose to participate in such protests and are subsequently disciplined by their high schools.
“Grinnell receives thousands of applications for admission every year from the most qualified students across the nation and around the world. Through a holistic process of review, we consider each applicant’s demonstrated commitments to academic excellence, diversity, and social change. We would never penalize a prospective student for peaceful public protest. Indeed, we reward students in the application process who have used their voices to address important social problems.”
“We understand that some applicants to Denison wish to engage in peaceful political protest, but are concerned that resulting disciplinary actions by their secondary schools could adversely affect their college admission. While we respect the right of our secondary school colleagues to enforce their own lawful rules as they see fit, no negative action will be taken on your application to Denison as a result of exercising your right to peaceful and meaningful protest. Peaceful protest and the constructive expression of ideas are consistent with Denison’s longstanding mission of valuing and promoting active citizenship.”
So, I took the list that appeared upthread, alphabetized it, and added in the colleges that people have reported in recent days on this thread.
Bates
Bennington
Brandeis
BU
Bowdoin
Brown
CalTech
Clark
Colby
College of the Holy Cross
Dartmouth
Denison
DePaul
Emory
George Washington
GMU
Grinnell
Harvey Mudd
Haverford
Johns Hopkins
Lawrence University
Lebanon Valley College
Lehigh
Lindenwood
Macalester
MIT
Mt Holyoke
Muhlenberg
Northeastern
Northwestern
Notre Dame
Oberlin
Plymouth State
Smith
Suffolk
Trinity College
Tufts
Tulane
UConn
UCLA
UMass-Amherst
Univ. of New England
USC
UVA
University of Wisconsin
WPI
UWashington
Wesleyan
Williams
Whitman college
Yale
There are probably more college names on the google doc on the blog from MIT admissions, but I’m afraid that can’t access that document from this computer. I suspect there are a lot of colleges that have issued statements that don’t appear on this list so please feel free to add to it if you’re so inclined.
add Indiana University-
“At IU, we encourage students to engage in meaningful, informed, and civil discourse regarding difficult and important issues. Disciplinary action associated with participation in peaceful protest will not affect your admission decision in any way.”