The 17 minute national school walkout: On Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 exactly one month after the tragedy at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, many gathered for a special cause.
Students across the country spent the day honoring the victims and taking a stand against gun violence.
Schools showcased their support by:
• Holding assemblies to talk about school safety
• Opening the floor for the students to debrief the situation and discuss prevention strategies.
• Organizing student-run, school-wide walkouts lasting 17 minutes. Each minute honoring the one of the 17 victims.
Honoring the victims or pushing political agendas?
The 17 minute national school walkout was symbolic for many in honoring the victims that lost their lives in the Parkland high school shooting. Others also believed it served a political purpose. A variety of opinions on the 17 minute national school walkout across social media showcased both support and opposition. At some schools, students could have faced disciplinary measures had they participated. Other schools welcomed parent and teacher involvement in the 17 minute national school walkout.
17 Minute Walkout Across the Nation
According to the New York Times, at Columbine High School, students waved signs and released red, white and blue balloons. One student even said, “this is our future.” At a school in Potosi, Wisconsin, students did not organize a formal walkout, but the school did plan an assembly at 10am to discuss school safety and to spend time to value the importance of being kind to one another. However, one student did leave the assembly to participate in the 17 minute national school walkout. According to the principal Mike Uppena, “throughout the assembly, she sat by herself outside, by a flagpole, for 17 minutes.” He added that she would not be in trouble for leaving.
17 Minute National School Walkout in Parkland, Florida
Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas also participated to honor their fallen classmates. They left campus and met at a nearby park. “We need more than just 17 minutes,” Nicolle Montgomerie, 17, a junior, said as she walked toward the park.
Two nationwide protests of gun violence are scheduled for March 24 and April 20, the anniversary of the Columbine shooting.
As a company dedicated to the safety of the children in our schools, we applaud time taken to honor the victims.
To learn more about school safety and how you can prepare your local school, please >>make an appointment<< with us today.
