We have failed an entire generation of kids from Columbine on April 20, 1999 to Parkland on February 14, 2018. Now they are taking matters into their own hands. I don't blame them.
But man, all the adults bitching and saying awful things about these kids for 17 fucking minutes out of the classroom to remember 17 lives cut short - some of the dead are younger than the kids who will participate today.
I bet the parents of those 17 kids wish their kids were alive today to argue with over 17 missed minutes of class.
17 kids at the end of a long line of gunned down school children but we want to tell kids not to dare leave class to say anything about it because they don't know what they're talking about and probably just want to get out of class and don't make it political. How dare they have an interest in staying alive in an environment that should focus solely on learning and growing rather than the now required active shooter drills? #neveragain
Civil disobedience requires no permission. You know the possible consequences when you engage in it but your cause is important enough for the risk. Staying alive is pretty fucking important. So is standing up for what you believe in.
You can't want civic engagement and knowledgeable voters and community members at 18 without encouraging them in civic engagement before they reach that age. You can't teach kids that participation in community, government, politics, etc. is fundamental to the American way then ask them not to participate when you don't like their stance.
I support every kid that participates in the walkout today in support of common sense gun laws and in remembrance of the 17 kids gunned down at school in Parkland, FL, a month ago today.
This is your future. Don't let anyone tell you you don't have a say in it.
God I am so inspired by these kids and I got a lump in my throat seeing elementary-age students participating in this walkout. We need to do better and like you said, the "adults" aren't helping to combat school violence, so time for the students to take matters into their own hands. KUDOS TO THEM.
ReplyDeleteI thought back to when I was in high school - I was in a school that was a more advanced school so they had strict rules. There was a similar walk out (different issue back in the 80s) & we were told if we walked out, we would get suspended. I thought of that today when I heard about this - wondered if my school would be allowing kids to do that today. I doubt it. I heard on our news a lot of the school systems said they would allow 17 minutes of a moment of silence to do what they wanted with that - but they werent allowed to walk out. So much for freedom of speech.
ReplyDeleteIf we all took a stand for our beliefs like these kids, maybe the world would be a better place. I was a senior in high school when Columbine happened. I would like to believe if we had a walk out in honor of those that were lost in that shooting, and to say that something needs to be done then...I would like to think I would have.
ReplyDeleteI am so amazed at these kids - they are strong and fearless, and I'm so grateful that they are the next generation. I'm in awe that these schools are even thinking of suspending them -- it goes against everything they're being taught in these schools.
ReplyDeleteWe have failed these kids...and we continue to repeatedly. I'm so proud of them for standing up for themselves and all of the other kids who want to be protected from this insanity.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you and am with these kids that are standing up for what they believe in - which is the right to not fear going to school and to be protected by these "adults" that have completely failed them.
ReplyDeleteOh that last sentence, so dang true. I am so proud of these kids.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter wanted to do a walk out today. She's only 12 though, I kept telling her to try to get others involved with her!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI need to proofread. Marching for their loved and for the future. Enough. God bless and help and heal all always.
DeleteLove. Your. Momma.
Omg. Marching for their LIVES. Goddess and Godspeed to these kids.
DeleteI would fully support my child walking out (if I had one). Columbine happened my freshman year of high school, and supposedly changed everything, but in the last 19 years NOTHING has changed to make schools safer for kids. Ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteYou are always a great voice of reason and have a way of putting things into perspective. It's so sad to see this happen over and over...and to lose small innocent lives is just devastating. I grieve for these families. Something needs to be done about mental health issues and detecting the signs - educate and communicate. Emily @ Martinis & Bikinis
ReplyDeleteI want to hug you. I’m so tired no make that exhausted of the comments on FB about how these kids better not walk out, that they better not this and they better not that. That they have no idea what they are protesting and are just trying to get out of school. My heart breaks for those kids living at home whose parents have that mindset.
ReplyDeleteI was sad to hear so many colleagues saying that a school led assembly was better and I was frustrated with myself for believing them for more than a few seconds.
I don’t want to victim blame because nobody deserves to be shot but I did see a post about reaching out to those that seem lonely, those that you know have a crappy home life, try to connect with someone new, say thank you to a teacher etc. that plus demanding safety in our schools can go hand and hand I think
I can still vividly remember where I was and what I was doing when I found out about Columbine, and it shook me to my core. I couldn't be happier to see the students finally coming together to take a stand to end these senseless and horrific acts. No more.
ReplyDeleteHow can anyone oppose what they're doing? God bless them all!
ReplyDeleteAll of this. The colleges have been telling kids that they won't hold it against them in the admissions process and the fucking high schools are saying that they will penalize kids. I've heard so many stupid excuses about why it can't happen. Last year, one of our principals got on the loudspeaker about immigration and BLM protests and said that while he can't protect them outside of school, he would take them out to march and exercise their rights. It damn near brought me to tears listening to him. I'm sad that he retired. We're on spring break, so I'm sure everyone is breathing a sigh of relief that they didn't have to deal with it. The posts about walking up not out are making me stabby. Why do educators always miss the point?!
ReplyDelete