Wyoming Area Secondary Center students and faculty members joins hands during an organized walkout of class for 17 minutes on March 14 in Exeter, Pa. to commemorate the victims of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting.
—Mark Moran/The Citizens’ Voice via AP
This morning, thousands of students staged a nationwide walkout to protest gun violence and honor the 17 victims of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting that took place exactly one month ago.
On Twitter, we asked teachers to share their photos and stories from the walkouts. Before the demonstrations began, some teachers affirmed their support for students’ right to protest:
I will hug every one of my students, current or former, who follow their hearts and exercise their right to speak. May we all learn from our children. https://t.co/Sjt8ev1fQA
— mary stein (@marybookwriter) March 14, 2018
To support the children and discuss whatever they want to talk about when they return to the building.....give them the space to engage in their own advocacy
— Baba Olumiji (@MrOSSClass) March 14, 2018
When the walkouts began, many educators joined their students outside:
Incredibly moved by our @bannekersga for leading the entire student body in today’s #nationalwalkout - Our school community stands with @BintouTunkara in the belief that “we stand with Stoneman Douglass, we stand with College Park and everyone in our nation proclaiming enough.” pic.twitter.com/k1x9VkFiRw
— Banneker HS (@Banneker_HS) March 14, 2018
High School North students letting their voices be heard. #wwprsd #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/16SHvG7qUP
— Beth Pandolpho (@bethpando) March 14, 2018
— Karl Fisch (@karlfisch) March 14, 2018
I’m proud of the students at @uniliggett that organized this event. Students have a voice and it should not be ignored. #NationalSchoolWalkout pic.twitter.com/PE7hluXAUw
— Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) March 14, 2018
Other teachers showed their support from inside the classroom:
My babies... They will win. pic.twitter.com/a84M6KMgBL
— nate bowling (@nate_bowling) March 14, 2018
Another photo of my students braving the blizzard. #StudentsStandUp #ENOUGH pic.twitter.com/4d9510rLPY
— Ms. S (@MsStephensonELA) March 14, 2018
And even teachers outside of the U.S. joined the demonstrations:
30+ students, American and non-American, at Asociación Escuelas Lincoln in Buenos Aires, Argentina did, just now. #aelincoln #enoughisenough #NationalWalkoutDay pic.twitter.com/A3BcAK9ZPo
— Alli Poirot (@Ms_Poirot) March 14, 2018
In some schools, teachers and administrators created spaces for students to participate in the protests without leaving campus. “Our elementary school is having 17 seconds of silence followed by 17 minutes of peace activities,” one teacher tweeted.
Our administration has created opportunities for students to walk out of classrooms and join together in the cafeteria to write or draw a reflection to express their views from 10:00-10:17. Safety and staying inside is a priority concern. #wyasdpride 💙 https://t.co/FtXr0c6xB1
— Ms. C. Henry, Math 7 (@HenryWYMS) March 14, 2018
Lots of activities that affirm classroom community & strengthen relationships. Plus pie...plenty of pie! 😁
— Jill Maenner (@MaenTeacher) March 14, 2018
(As many teachers noted, the walkout unrelatedly coincided with Pi Day, held each year on March 14—or 3.14.)
For more updates on the walkouts, make sure to follow our live coverage from reporters stationed across the country. And if you’re not sure how to address the aftermath of this morning’s events, take a look at these four tips from experts in students’ civic engagement.
Have a story or photo from your school’s walkout? Share in the comments below or tweet us @EdWeekTeacher.