Natick Students Plan Walkout On March 14

NATICK, MA—Students from Natick High School plan to join a national movement this week to protest gun violence in schools and call for stricter laws. Students will walk out of class starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14.

The walkout events are planned across the country in direct response to the 17 students and staff who were killed and numerous people injured in the Valentine's Day massacre in Parkland, Florida. The walkout takes place on the one-month anniversary of the shooting. Called National School Walkout Day, it is organized by EMPOWER—the youth branch of the Women’s March.

Students participating in the national walkout on March 14 leave their classrooms for 17 minutes – one minute for each life taken at the school on Feb. 14, according to organizers. The walkout honors the victims and advocates for school safety.

"We have heard from our secondary principals that many of our students have reached out to them to collaborate on how best to address the student desire to walk out and express their opinions," wrote Anna Nolin, assistant superintendent for teaching, learning and innovation, "but do so in a safe manner that supports the diversity of opinion that exists within the student body and maintains the respectful atmosphere of the schools. We are proud of our student leaders at all levels for the collaborative, thoughtful advocacy they have demonstrated."

Nolin wrote in a letter addressed to the school community that several months ago, the schools explained the manner in which officials directly teach students about social justice and civic engagement and shared an overview of how we approach this core value in our curriculum and teaching.

"We also recently wrote to you about how our system approaches school safety with adult and student relationship building at the core of our work," said Nolin, "further strengthened by trained adult emergency response to contend with a variety of possible safety challenges."

The planned walkout is being viewed by Natick teachers and administrators as a "lab" experience for the teaching and curriculum in the Natick schools.

"Teaching our students how to lead, think, propose ideas, disagree and take respectful and forceful action on issues is what we do; our students are indicating to us that they have learned and want to take action," she wrote. "This walkout is led by students, for students."

Initially, school administration had planned to honor the event by providing indoor gym space for a protest, but Natick students strongly advocated for the right to walk out to make more a a forceful statement. To support this, on-campus locations have been identified for the students to march, and school staff and police will be on site at the designated locations.

"At all levels, this peaceful, non-violent walk out and discussions in the school setting will be guided by our school handbook in terms of keeping the educational environment disruption and violence-free," said Nolin. "Instruction and the work of the building will continue throughout the walkout; however, students will not be penalized for participating or not. Expectations for student behavior and decorum expected in our schools will be in play.

"If the majority of the students assigned to them at this time are walking out, they are to support with supervision. If the majority stay in class, they will continue to teach, and we will work with students to ensure no new material is missed."

Nolin stressed in her letter to the school community that the walkout is not a forum for teachers to express their personal political views and as public educators.

"We have reminded our staff that they cannot use their teacher, coach or leadership role and influence while discussing these matters," she said. "Our role is to support student voice and choice in civil action, rights, and responsibilities in this national activity."

Plans for the walkout:

At Natick High School
Student leaders and organizers will march to the designated location and have prepared a tribute to the Parkland victims and student speakers will speak about the events and their student opinions and messages related to these events.

At the Middle Schools
Based on developmental readiness and on the age of the students who have come forward to talk to principals, that grade 7 and 8 students are most likely to want to participate. Should younger students voice this desire, they will be supported; however, tributes to victims through a moment of silence and discussions about walkouts and civic action will occur with teacher support throughout the grade levels. "We see educating students about their rights and responsibilities as citizens as part of our core mission. It is critical, however, that you have discussions with your child(ren) about how you would like them to participate or not and what your family values are around these issues and the walkout itself. Students should act in accordance with your family expectations. Middle school students need your direction or they will be subject to peer pressure, confusion, and worry that you and your family values structure can best alleviate."

Marching locations have been identified for participating students on campus in keeping with that described above in the high school events, with police and school support. A moment of silence and tribute will be held in homeroom. Instruction will continue while these activities occur and discussion of civic engagement and what walkouts are, what they can mean and have meant in history will also occur where they make sense and will be presented in an age-appropriate manner.

Elementary Schools
As leaders of our youngest learners, officials do not believe that direct involvement in the walk-out is appropriate for the elementary population. "We have not and do not actively discuss current events that involve this level of violence with this age level of students. We feel this is a family decision to navigate with their children. Our goal is to help our students feel safe at school so they can learn. We answer questions and support students as issues and ideas emerge. As part of our civic education across the district, however, we can encourage student voice and participation in an age-appropriate way, one way to do this is through celebrations and spirit days. So, instead of a walkout, elementary schools will be hosting SPIRIT days at each of our elementary schools on Friday, March 16. Each elementary school will detail their spirit ideas to families in upcoming blast messaging this week. Teaching and learning will carry on as usual at the PK-4 levels on the 14."

How Families Can Partner With Natick Schools
"This letter comes to you by design before the weekend so that you can discuss it with your children in advance of the event next week. Please discuss your family expectations with your student(s). Given Natick’s place in the education landscape and this event’s national ties, media may be present around the school campuses; your family will need to discuss if media attention influences the decision to walk out or not.

"As a school system, we prioritize your children’s safety and seek to nourish and enrich their academic, civic and social development. It is our core social justice mission to create citizens who possess the reading, writing, thinking, listening and speaking skills to lead and change their world. We see you as our partners in this work. To that end, please feel free to contact us with questions or concerns."

Photo via Natick public schools