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Something I saw posted online today.

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Let's not make this into something "we" want from something that the students want.  The fact that we have students who give a darn will be educational enough.  If teachers spend minutes after talking to their students abut what just happened...well that's not educational either...it's learning!

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There are many great ideas here.  I hesitate, however, to let what we want this to look like to wholly determine what it ends up looking like.  We need to make sure that ‘their’ demonstration doesn’t become solely what works for us.  What exactly is it they have planned?  Are student and faculty representatives working together to create the type of event that does what they want it to do while meeting our safety and educational needs?

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We if don't allow the students to do this it could result in a spontaneous action on their part which could turn into something negative.  I like the idea of using it as a way of teaching about non-violent resistance as an tool for change.  The writing project sounds like a very good idea.  Another suggestion would be to text or phone congress.  Representatives respond to this.

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We need to make sure the paper and the TV stations are invited as well.

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We could invite first responders to join our kids for their walk-out.  To end it, the police chief or fire marshal could say a word or two to them.  Invite our Governing Board - City Council, mental health professionals, counselors. clergy, to join the teachers so we could literally circle our kids with adults - symbolically protecting them.

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I love "anonymous 12:59" :)

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What if we ask them to think about what they would like to say to their representatives/senators at both the state and national level during that 17 minutes of silence.  Then, as a school-wide writing across the curriculum (and for those who are using writing as part of their 301 plans, it could be used as a writing activity for your data), they came back to their classrooms and actually wrote their representative, senator, or president for that matter.  We could then mail the letters!  Put silence into action with lots of letters.

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The ultimate goal is to foster students into becoming critical thinkers. I can't think of a better place to start than through local, civic engagement. My students are concerned about and engaged over the current bout of school violence. It is something that is on their mind. They have a voice and a stake in this. Let's give them a chance and see what they have to say.

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I plan to attach it to "Into the Wild" which is a young man who seemingly became so disenfranchised with society that he went to Alaska on his own. I would have students write a reflective piece.  Some guiding questions I might ask are: How empowered do you feel being part of this demonstration?

Does a demonstration like this support the victims, or just give students time out of class?

What do you think will come of this demonstration?

What do you think should come of this demonstration?

Then, we would compare their reactions to those found in the story.

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The idea of students at a school walking out against gun violence is showing their freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment.    There are some rallies that would be questionable but in this case, as is being shown in other parts of the country, students are letting it be known their feelings about gun violence in our schools and their wanting government to resolve this issue.     I would remind students they are not just leaving the classroom to get away from studies, but rather are practicing their freedom of expression in a quiet, non-violent way.     Once back in class, I would have them write about their feelings.