Student Walk-Out Information.

Today's class post is below, but here is some information that may be pertinent to you or someone in your life. It is important to me that I provide you with information, particularly since I have had students ask me about it. This is meant to be informative, not an endorsement, but I support your decisions, whatever they may be:

There is a National Student Walk-Out tomorrow, March 14, at 10am for 17 minutes.

"The nationwide protest is both a memorial and protest action. Students and teachers across the United States will walk out of their schools and universities to honor the lives of the 17 people killed at Stoneman Douglas and press lawmakers to pass stricter gun control laws, according to EMPOWER, the group organizing the action" (Adone, CNN). <--- Click on the link for full article.

From Aviara Oaks Administration (edited for clarity):

     We will have the lobby of the MPR open for students to gather if they wish.  Administrative staff and campus supervisors will be monitoring behavior and ensuring safety for students out of class. The following are a few interesting pieces regarding student protests historically (Time magazine) and student rights (ACLU link).  In addition, there is a KTSA article that may be interesting to you.

Time Magazine student protest

ACLU Link

KTSA Teacher editorial

Other Notes from Ms. Black:

• READ the links above. They are genuinely good. The editorial has some really important ideas for you to think about. The CNN article talks about the actual walk-out.
• The walk-out color is orange. Posters may help. Document it with pictures or something.
• Ms. Black cannot walk out. Her responsibility is to the students in the room.
• This takes place during advisory. If you go, you will be late to 4th period and marked tardy.
• Walkouts are meant to be peaceful demonstrations, particularly when part of the goal is to honor lives lost. Do not participate if you cannot honor that. Do not participate if you are going to disrupt that in any way. It is the disruptions that will cause you to get in trouble, not the walk-out itself.
• This walk-out is not about training teachers to have guns, but this is an actual piece of legislation that is making its way through the government and being talked about as a solution to gun violence. Ms. Black would like to simply state that she really would not like to be armed with a gun at school. She can't even keep track of her pens, and she would not feel safe with guns in her classroom or in any other classroom on a campus where she works with kids every day. Her responsibility is to students education and their safety when they are with me, and she can't ensure that with guns.
• We have to be citizens who hear each other, so if you think this is the most important issue ever, or if you think all of the protests are stupid, it doesn't matter. Listen, and I encourage you not to silence each others' voices. We can't make fun of each other for using our voices and we can't bully others into doing things our way. It only makes things harder.