School walk out and walk in available to students
Administration adds another option to the nation-wide school walkout
Here is a small snippet of what students need to look out for Wednesday March 14. Be sure to read the story for full details.
March 13, 2018
For 17 minutes on March 14, students across the nation will walk out of school in honor of each life lost in the Parkland shooting. The National School Walkout, set to take place at 10 a.m., is an event orchestrated by students to protest gun violence.
Although SHS students will not be punished for walking out, provided they follow the necessary procedures, administration hopes they will instead choose to attend the rally hosted at the same time in the fieldhouse. This is intended to be a safer alternative, according to Principal Brian Knight, while still allowing students to express themselves and exercise their rights.
“(Gun violence is) an issue that impacts all of us, students and staff,” Knight said. “So it’s something that we all wanted to try and come together to create one voice around.”
Students will be released at 9:55 a.m. to attend the rally, while those who don’t want to take part can stay with teachers who aren’t going as well. For liability reasons, students who wish to walk out without punishment will be required to have a signed note giving them permission from a parent or guardian. They can sign out at the main office.
At the rally, Knight says 17 minutes will be put on the clock. Once the countdown begins, speakers will discuss First Amendment rights, safety in the community and how to spread kindness. The speeches will come from chosen students, staff and members of law enforcement.
“I think the majority of the message is going to be, ‘Let’s start by being a lot nicer to each other and see how that can impact the school,’” Knight said.
The remainder of the 17 minutes will be moments of silence. On their way out of the fieldhouse, students will be able to sign banners with messages about spreading kindness and promoting change.
Junior Megan Miller plans to attend the rally, and she says she is very happy that SHS can have one because it encourages students to stand up for what they believe in. She thinks there is a need for stricter gun control laws and this gives students an opportunity to fight for that.
“If students from a lot of schools around the U.S. fight for this, then I feel like there will be a big change,” Miller said.
