Student’s Handbook on Strikes and Protests
The shooting at a school in Parkland, Florida has sparked a wave of student activity across the country, with teens marching, organizing, and social media to pressure their representatives to pass meaningful gun legislation. Over the past two weeks, students have walked out of school in protest and new protests are planned: one scheduled for March 14 encourages students to leave their classrooms at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes , one minute for every person killed in Parkland, and a nationwide high school strike on April 20, on the 19th anniversary of Columbine. You can find events near you here .
Some school administrators have threatened students with disciplinary action if they participate in any strikes or protests on school grounds or during school hours. The headmaster of a school near Houston wrote on the school’s Facebook page that students would be suspended for three days for participating in any protests.
Your rights
The ACLU had a few words about this. In her blog, Vera Eidelman outlines student rights. Here’s a rundown of the length of the tweet:
Eidelman encourages students to first review their school’s absenteeism policy to understand the implications of being absent from class; the consequences shouldn’t be more severe than if you skipped school for a simpler reason.
She also notes that there are forms of protest for which schools cannot impose any punishment, such as political T-shirts. As long as the protest does not “disrupt the work of the school,” students’ rights to free speech are protected. It is a long-standing right, confirmed by a 1969 Supreme Court decision that allowed students to wear black armbands in protest against the Vietnam War . And it should be noted that many teachers and administrators across the country support free speech and the right to protest , and teacher unions encourage collective action , so don’t assume your school district will not participate in the program.
This does not mean that schools have not tried and will not try to punish students for speaking out and protesting, even if students are within their legal rights. If this happens, refer to your local ACLU chapter and go from there.
Your safety
Protesters can and do get injured or even killed during protests. It is best for your safety to bring a bottle of water and good snacks with you; any medication you may need urgently (such as an inhaler or epipen); fully charged phone and / or camera; pen and paper; and for tear gas, a bandana soaked in vinegar in a sealed bag. For some protests, however, there are restrictions on what bags you can carry, so research as much in advance as possible – protests are usually associated with an event or Facebook page. Here are some more safety tips from Amnesty International.
You also need to make sure that you are following legal orders from law enforcement, and if shit starts – for example, someone breaks windows, sets things on fire, or general lawlessness breaks out – leave. You want to get away from anyone who is doing anything cruel or illegal.
My experience of protesting has always been peaceful, but I can suggest that if you are protesting in an unfamiliar city such as Washington, write down the addresses of a few friends or acquaintances and have a paper card with you in case public transport and Internet services become difficult. navigation or is turned off altogether. I can also vote for good shoes, water, snacks, sunscreen, and money.
Your “Permanent Record”
Here’s another intimidation tactic, perhaps one that parents might use against their children, or even students might use each other: Skipping school / being barred from participating in protests will somehow hurt a student’s chances of going to a good college.
But colleges and universities are signaling widely that community engagement won’t affect your application , and in fact Stu Schmill, Dean of Admissions and Finance at MIT, encourages students to follow their moral compasses: “We always encourage students to take on commitments. whichever way of doing things in life is the most meaningful and consistent with their own principles, and would not determine how that might affect their college entrance. ”
Therefore, suspension or disciplinary action by the high school administration that is adequately explained on your application should not negatively affect your chances.
Your parents
The school strike on March 14 is for students. But if your parents are also partial to gun violence, show them the March 24 March for Our Lives , also hosted by Parkland students and funded by some famous celebrities. This new wave of student activism, coupled with the old wave of parenting activism, may just push through some legislation.
Yes, and one more thing. If you are 18 or nearly 18 years of age, register to vote .