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Mass Student Walk-Out In New York City Protests Over School COVID-19 Safety Policies

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Mass Student Walk-Out In New York City Protests Over School COVID-19 Safety Policies

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KEY POINTS

Hundreds of students from the city's largest school and other NYC schools walked out Tuesday

Students want 'an option to go remote,' a local journalist said

Some school leaders reportedly opted not to sanction the protest

Hundreds of students across New York City walked out of their schools Tuesday in a show of defiance over COVID-19 safety protocols in classrooms. At least 600 kids left Brooklyn Technical High School, the city's largest, before noon despite the cold weather.

The students walked out of the educational facility in the biting cold to protest the lacking COVID-19 safety policies in their school amid the spread of the Omicron variant, New York Daily News reported. The students expressed concerns over "an unsafe and chaotic environment at their school" despite rising infections, the report said.

In a series of social media posts, Instagram account @ nycstudentwalkout2022 called on NYC students to participate in the Tuesday protest. The said account has more than 3,700 followers and one post, which called for a walkout at 11.52 a.m. Tuesday, gained over 16,000 likes. "Participating in the walkout is showing solidarity with our city's parents and educators," one post on the account reads.

Local newspaper journalist Sarah Belle Lin spoke with some students at the Bronx High School of Science who participated in the protest. Lin said the participating students are demanding " an option to go remote," adding that there were also students from Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan who joined the citywide protest.

The exact number of protesting students is unclear, but participation was reportedly high at the Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, and the 6,000-student Brooklyn Tech, the report said.

Sources told New York Post that teachers and administrators told participating students their participation will not be considered as unexcused absences, while other school administrators did not sanction the protest.

A junior at Brooklyn Tech told the outlet that students "don't feel safe at school" and that "there are so many cases going around and we think more should be done." Danny Mui, a sophomore at the school, said that "half the students aren't there" in his classes as some have contracted the virus while others are "afraid of COVID." Mui said that "the school just isn't doing anything about it."

New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks said the district understands students' concern "during this crisis and wholeheartedly supports civic engagement among New York City students," WABC reported. Banks also urged student leaders who participated during the protest "to discuss their concerns and ideas" with him, adding that the district has "doubled in-school testing" as part of the efforts to prevent transmissions.

Data from NYC Health revealed that the daily average of new confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, positivity rate, and probable cases in the city have been increasing over the last seven days. The city has logged more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic started.

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Mass Student Walk-Out In New York City Protests Over School COVID-19 Safety Policies

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Hundreds of students from the city's largest school and other NYC schools walked out Tuesday Students want 'an option to go remote,' a local journalist said Some school leaders reportedly opted not to sanction the protest Hundreds of students across New York City walked out of their schools Tuesday in a show of defiance over COVID-19 safety protocols in classrooms. At least 600 kids left Brooklyn Technical High School, the city's largest, before noon despite the cold weather.

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NYC students walk out of schools to protest COVID-19 conditions

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NYC students walk out of schools to protest COVID-19 conditions

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Students walked out of classes across the city Tuesday to protest school conditions amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

Participants exited buildings just before noon to lobby for remote learning options and more stringent testing procedures with COVID-19 cases spiking.

Sources at several schools said that both administrators and teachers quietly signed off on the walk out and told students that they would not be subject to unexcused absences.

Other school leaders did not sanction the protest and told students that they would be dinged for taking part, sources said.

Participation was particularly high at some of the city's most exclusive academic bastions - including Brooklyn Tech High School, Stuyvesant, and Bronx Science.

"We don't feel safe at school," a Brooklyn Tech junior told The Post Tuesday. "It's pretty much that simple. There are so many cases going around and we think more should be done."

Some students returned to class after the walkout while others called it a day and opted not to return.

Student leaders said they they wanted more testing for both staff and kids and argued that remote options were appropriate with cases rising.

Others expressed concern over cramped conditions and a lack of social distancing.

The walkout had the blessing of several teachers union factions and activist groups who have been pressing for either a remote option or a full but temporary transition to distance learning until conditions shift.

Student attendance has lagged in recent weeks but crept up to 75 percent on Monday.

The Department of Education reported more than 11,000 new COVID-19 cases among city students on Monday - the highest single day total this year.

Casting remote learning as damaging to city kids and working families, Mayor Eric Adams has rejected any calls for a distance learning option thus far.

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NYC students walk out of schools to protest COVID-19 conditions

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Students walked out of classes across the city Tuesday to protest school conditions amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Participants exited buildings just before noon to lobby for remote learning options and more stringent testing procedures with COVID-19 cases spiking.

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1. What are your thoughts?

2. Do you agree or disagree with the protest?

3. How do you feel returning back to school?

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1. My thoughts on this is that the students did what they had to do for their safety. I think it's crazy how they're only thinking about education instead of the well begin of the children.

2. I agree with the post because normally schools honestly don't listen to the ideas that their students have, I feel like we're just numbers and data to them

3. I'm honestly ready to get back in the building but I just hope that the school is regulating the cleaning that goes on in the school especially the bathrooms MY GODDDD

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1) I see why the students would do this as they are concerned for the new COVID variants and the possible sicknesses that could also be around.

2) I agree with this protest because I wouldn't want to be in such a large schools with hundreds and thousands of kids with new sicknesses around the world. It isn't safe for the kids and their families as the sickness could spread from the kids to the parents and so on.

3) I'm a little concerned about returning back to school as the COVID variants are being shown more and more as the virus is spreading faster. It is becoming more dangerous to be in person as time goes on and more sicknesses are rising around us.

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1) My thoughts are as state of emergency schools should allow kids to remote and give options to them with their learning. It's not really safe to have so much students in class especially when some become sick with the covid which can create a breakout of covid within the school community.

2) I do agree with the protests because it allows student voices to be heard towards the covid situation.

3) I'm not bother with returning back to school but i don't really think we are gonna go back by next week. :/

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1. I think they are doing the right thing. they are scared for their safety and they are trying to find a comfortable way to get through school
2. I agree with the protest because a lot of people are getting sick from the new era of covid while others are dying or being hospitalized. The students are worrying about themselves and their grades at the same time.
3. I feel and don't feel comfortable going back to school. It's easier and more productive learning in school but our school does not take covid seriously, especially the younger kids. And their guidelines for once you are out sick with "covid" is to join zoom and have teachers send you your work but most teachers never join and you'll be stuck doing it yourself.

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1. I am proud of the students with voicing their concerns about the kind of protection and safety they are being given in the school environment. Usually it feels like the voices of students is gone unheard and decisions are being made with love in their lives without their consent being involved. And I am also proud that they were able to come together and fight for one united goal.

2. I agree with this protest because If students are attending school which is not putting a good amount of safety precautions that are guarantee their safety in school they have the right to fight for change because it their life at risk.

3. I am on the fence Because The first time we went back it felt like there was no social distancing and there were no safety precautions that were being followed except for wearing mask so I hope this time around it’s a lot safer than before.

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1) I agree with the students, and like that they were willing to go out of their way to protest about something that i affecting both them and all the students in the city.

2) I agree with this protest because I dont understand while the people in power can't see the danger they are putting their students in by continuing to have in person classes.

3) I believe that we should be given the choice in whether we wnt to go back to school or not, nd that everyone should do what they can to be safe if they decide to go

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1. I think the students have a right to express the way they feel especially if they aren't being listened to. They probably felt as if they had to do something big to be heard.
2. I agree with it because we're lucky enough to be doing remote learning right now but some schools don't give that opportunity and some students might not feel safe.
3. I don't really want to return because I don't think our school takes the proper precautions.

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1. My thoughts did change about the fact that the students made right decision to protest the reason is that during the winter lots of people had covid.
2. I agree with the protest because it is freedom of speech and also with the fact that the school has lots of students and thats not safe at all.
3. Me personally I do not want to go back to school until I know that am safe.

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1. my thoughts on the situation is, they had ever right to leave the school because the school was putting them in danger.

2: I agree with their protest, the school knew that the covid cases were rising and still let 3000+ students come back to school.

3: Half and Half, i want to come back and see my friends. But honestly i like being home, its warm, safe and i get more work done.

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1) I can understand why the students would stage a walk out
2) I agree with them because why would I put my safety at risk in a highly populated and high case having city just to make the city look good
3) I don't really feel all too well about returning to school. I would rather stay home for some time because I'm getting comfortable to zoom

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1. I think the protest was necessary. This gave attention to put some sense back into the mayor for the safety concern of the students.
2. I agree w/ the protest.
3. I feel iffy. I know going back to school would be better for my education but at the same time I would rather be safe and stay at home.

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1. I think this was a good form of protest. It bring the teacher and students together because this is just not a city problem but a WorldWide problem.
2. I absolutely agree with the protest.
3. I kinda wanna go back because I do learn better then being online but I rather be safe

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1) I think the students were right to protest, because the school system wasn't responding to the dangerous situation.

2) I agree, because we need to do something to stop the spread.

3) I'm not trying to go back, not because I think it's dangerous, but just because I don't feel like it.

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1. I think the protest was needed because the students felt they were not being heard.
2. I agree with the protest because if they do not feel safe then they need to voice their opinions.
3. I want to go back to school but I also want to stay home.

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1.they stood up for what they think is right so its okay
2. i agree with the protest because if they and the teachers dont feel safe then they should be able to leave
3.i feel neutral about school and online work etc