Schools prepare for Wednesday 'walkout'
Tomorrow, gun control and leftwing groups have organized a student walkout during the school day. It starts at 10:00 am and lasts 17 minutes - one minute for every murdered student in Parkland, FL one month ago.
The walkout's goal is "to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship," according to the event.
Locally, the Principal at Owen High School - Meg Turner - sent this out a few weeks ago...
So, there are two options for students - excluding attending class as normal.
Instead, all high schools across the county will be holding events as counter-programming to a walkout.
But if you DO want your kid to walk out, you can sign them out. Those parents got this message:
The "man in Black Mountain" is a longtime leftwing activist.
As for the school-based program, this comes from another Owen HS parent - who says he got it from the school today:
In recognition of nation-wide efforts to show support for the lives lost and the trauma experienced at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, our school along with fellow high schools across Buncombe County will dedicate a Moment of Silence, beginning at 9:58. At 10:00, students will be given the opportunity to voluntarily leave their classrooms and walk to one of two designated areas for pre-planned student-led activities and reflection. One area will be for silence and victim recognition along with planning 17 meaningful ways to make a positive difference. The other area will be one for researching pros and cons of current gun control laws and letter writing. Both areas will be supervised. All students will be supported. The vigil will be outside if weather permits. When activities conclude, students will be asked to return to their classrooms. Students will be counted present for the entire period even though they will be out for part of the class.
Again, I want to emphasize that while we recognize the significance of the event, our priority is first and foremost to provide a safe learning environment for our students to participate in this important cause. I assume you are talking with your child(ren) regarding the relevance and significance of this event. If you support your child(ren) in recognizing this event off our campus, I ask that you come to the school and sign them out after first period between 9:30 and 9:45 or provide a signed note (email works too) giving approval if they drive to school. If you want your child to ride with a friend, we need a note to that affect as well. Students will be counted absent if they leave school but it will be coded as excused when our procedures are followed. Any student simply leaving the campus without going through sign-out procedures will be subject to school discipline which might include in-school suspension or out-of-school suspension depending on the circumstances. If students leave campus with a parent, they will be allowed to return as long as they return with the parent. If students drive or ride off campus, they will not be allowed to return later that same day. I simply don’t want to be responsible for student who have been off campus for a period of time without adult supervision. Thanks for understanding.
The priority we all share is student safety. Please contact us with any further questions.