The Parkland Florida school shooting has inspired students at schools all over the country to participate in school walk-outs as a form of peaceful protest against the government’s inaction regarding gun violence. These walk-outs have caused school administrators to threaten their students with detention and suspension. Many believe these protests are immature and should not to be taken seriously. Luckily, many colleges have assured students that any punishment inflicted by their high schools for participating in peaceful walk-outs will not affect their chances of getting accepted. Clearly, some institutions realize the seriousness of these student’s protests.
Public school students of all ages have grown up with a curriculum and a media that encourages youths to take a stand and participate in fighting corruption. Public schools have required us to read books like the “Diary of Ann Frank” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” in English classes. These books were arguably intended to show examples of strong children, allowing readers to freely begin questioning why the world is the way it is. These illustrations opened the door for students to start learning how to make difference in the face of authority. Ann Frank’s optimism in a time of seemingly post-apocalyptic Fascism was inspirational and shows the terrors of a highly corrupt society. Jean “Scout” Louis shows us problems in America’s legal system and the frustration of a child’s opinions often being ignored. Of course, despite the hurdles and barriers these children have to face, each overcomes their trials, inspiring readers of all ages to persevere and stick to what is right.
Also featured in public school libraries, Harry Potter is arguably the most successful fantasy series in the world. Each book contains a plot hosting a group of brave, intelligent and determined kids who take action against the evil threatening their school. Though they face various disciplinary punishments along the way, Harry and his friends never give up the fight for what is right and save their school multiple times throughout the series.
The Hunger Games, first in books and then in movies, has been very popular among America’s student body. If you don’t already know, it’s a series where, thanks to an oppressive government system, children are chosen to represent their districts in a televised fight to the death. Following the drama and the action, the corrupt government system is brought down when one young girl mourns the death of a person of color, inspiring every district to join in a rebellion.
The Divergent series follows a comparable plot to the Hunger Games but teaches us that any group of people who stereotype you, try to fit you into a single box or believe that you aren’t worthy of living if you don’t conform to society are wrong and need to be shut down.
In addition, we had the Maze Runner series, Matched, Artemis Fowl, Percy Jackson, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc. – all books about children affected by serious wrongs, finding ways to voice how the world should be run. They back up their beliefs by fighting for good regardless of the power of authority standing in their way. The last time I checked, all of these books have been found in our nation’s public school libraries.
After teaching today’s younger generations that it’s important to stand up for what they believe in and that they have a voice amid the chaos and corruption affecting their lives, depriving them of the chance to take action in a peaceful manner is wrong. It’s absurd for parents and administrations to disregard student protests and cries as, say, immature and disrespectful. If administrators want students to grow into honorable people who stand up for what they think is right, as they’ve shown through the emphasis on an education partially grounded in stories like those I mentioned above, then those authorities should back their claims up with an acceptance of student protests.
Larry Ticer • Mar 7, 2018 at 4:08 pm
College is meant to make you a slave to debt. Like an indentured servant you are forced to work for to pay off that debt. Unfortunately with high interest rates, poor pay, and the sheer volume of debt you won’t be able to. That is why they don’t close the schools. Schools profit off of most students and they don’t care despite what your liberal professor tells you. 4 years of college robs you of twice that, hopes to prevent you from having a family, house or true independence.
SQ • Mar 6, 2018 at 8:59 pm
“These walk-outs have caused school administrators to threaten their students with detention and suspension.” Interesting… When I was a public school student, teachers often walked out, i.e. they went on strike, sometimes for long periods of time. I don’t recall that any teacher was ever suspended.
Adam • Mar 6, 2018 at 6:31 pm
I think it would catch a lot of attention if everyone that wanted to protest dropped out. Think of how badly your institution would miss you(r tuition)! Think of those poor people left in the schools that would soon recognize the omnipresent voice of chaos and rebellion we’re gone.
Think of the relief in their lives…
Come to think of it, we should actually be like those rational people. If you want to waste your time protesting, I encourage you to protest by dropping out, or else shut up and work hard and protect yourself like the rest of us.
And about children who want to protest, they do not have that right until they are 18. In fact, they have very very few rights, which is why any teacher can perform a search and seizure of students lockers. This whole notion is preposterous.
Adam Lundgren • Mar 6, 2018 at 6:18 pm
I think it would catch a lot of attention if everyone that wanted to protest dropped out. Think of how badly your institution would miss you(r tuition)! Think of those poor people left in the schools that would soon recognize the omnipresent voice of chaos and rebellion we’re gone.
Think of the relief in their lives…
Come to think of it, we should actually be like those rational people. If you want to waste your time protesting, I encourage you to protest by dropping out, or else shut up and work hard and protect yourself like the rest of us.
And about children who want to protest, they do not have that right until they are 18. In fact, they have very very few rights, which is why any teacher can perform a search and seizure of students lockers. This whole notion is preposterous.
Ahmed • Mar 6, 2018 at 5:16 pm
Should we really believe guns are the issue when society is filled sickness and mental illness? People are excited to watch the movie Saw depicted extreme torture, Americans think that killing unborn children in mass is acceptable, people tolerate all forms of sexual perversion in the name of “tolerance” Guns are not the issue this sick society is.
Derek • Mar 6, 2018 at 4:42 pm
Adolescent walk-outs are quite different from a directed protest. Back in the early 2000s, I helped standup the gay and straight alliance of Salt Lake out of East High. When we asked for support including protests, most kids were all about it and didn’t even want to know what it was for; their only question was if it was during class hours or not. My point: It’s one thing to jump on the band wagon during school hours because it gets you out of class, and something completely different when you show up when it matters most–during your own personal time.
Casey • Mar 6, 2018 at 4:25 pm
Why don’t the administrators just close the schools down for the rest of the year then? They are meant to run an educational facility, and people refusing to go to close is an act of defiance to that sole purpose. Of course they can’t encourage it. As college students, we learn to correctly cite our information from reliable sources. You make quite the generalization stating that administrators (plural form) are calling them immature and not supporting the students. Who is saying this?