76
Volume:
2018
,
March

17 Minutes and What Next?

Submitted By:
Pearl Rock Kane, Klingenstein Center, New York, NY

Student Walkout Taps Well of Anger, Mourning Over Gun Violence by Mark Walsh
Education Week, March 14, 2018

How will the success of student activism change what happens in your classroom and in your school? This article summarizes the events of March 14th, which may be the catalyst for a sea of change in student activism. Tens of thousands of students walked out of their classrooms at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time in a display of civic activism to mark the shooting last month that killed 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Reporters claimed that the demonstrations were unprecedented in recent American history at the K-12 level, a realization of the power and influence of young people attuned to social media. Some events were solemn remembrances of lives lost. Others were politically-charged demonstrations where students demanded stricter gun control, action from politicians, repercussions for those who failed to take action, and opposition to sitting in classes with armed teachers. Commercial broadcast networks suspended regular programs with special reports and some cable channels went dark for 17 minutes. In Washington, hundreds of protesting students gathered outside the White House, sat with their backs turned for 17 minutes, and then marched to the U.S. Capitol where they met with Democratic leaders and members of Congress. The immediacy of the march required quick action in many schools, but the implications may have lasting influence. For now, the event and the actions leading up to it provide ample material for meaningful discourse on civic action and the democratic process of political change.

Categories
Student Wellness & Safety
Current Events & Civic Engagement