Students who chose to take part in National Walkout Day in the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools on Wednesday were given detention.
Thousands of students across Northeast Ohio walked out of class on Wednesday as a way to remember the 17 victims of the Parkland, Fla., shooting and to protest gun violence.
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Willoughby-Eastlake City School authorities said students had already conducted a peaceful protest following the deadly shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School to show their support for the families of the victims and to express their anger over gun violence in schools across the country. That supervised walkout happened February 21.
When the district learned about the national walkout scheduled for March 14, a letter was sent home to middle school and high school parents to remind them of district procedures. Students who leave the classroom and the building without prior permission are marked unexcused. Once a student is marked unexcused, they are subject to detention. The district says this policy is in place to ensure student safety and maximize learning.
Instead of participating in the walkout on Wednesday, the district held a moment of silence in the middle and high schools and read the following message:
Good morning staff and students,
We would like to use this moment to remember those affected by violence in our country and in particular, those impacted while attending school.
We ask that as you think about the tragic events that have occurred in our nation’s schools, that you continue to help us by communicating with others to keep our schools safe.
If you see something or hear something that concerns you, please tell someone. Your parents, the local police, a trusted teacher, or another adult that you know. Do not ignore your instincts.
Please, if you see something, say something.
Thank you and join me as we pause for a moment of silence in reflection.
SILENCE....
As you proceed through your day, I would like to ask you to take the time to do something kind for another person as a random act of kindness.
Thank you staff and students, and again, please remember, you play an important role in our school’s safety.
If you see something, say something.
The district said that because a supervised walkout already took place in February when it was able to notify families, those students who chose to walk out of school in protest on Wednesday have been, or will be, given detention. Students who were absent from the classroom for more than one period will be given the option of writing to a local legislator or serving a second detention.
Superintendent Stephen Thompson sent the following statement:
While I understand the rights of our students to peacefully protest, and share their concerns regarding violence, the district does not support the idea of students walking out of school in protest. Repeated walkouts disrupt the educational process and compromise student safety. We cannot continue to place students in vulnerable conditions because of suggestions made by national political groups.
