School protests allow students to speak up
Accessible, low-risk demonstrations encourage students
December 18, 2017
High schools are a positive and safe environment in which students should feel supported when voicing their opinions via demonstrating.
When problematic events such as racist graffiti and slurs used by Champlin Park students take place, if the administration will hesitate to bring attention to the incidents, the responsibility falls to those who feel strongly about the issue, namely students.
Demonstrating at Park in support of black Champlin Park students helped to raise awareness of the incident and would not have had the same impact if the protest were organized outside of the school.
Protesting in school may cause students to be absent from their classes, but the absences are bound to gain attention from teachers as well as students who may not have previously heard about the event. Students being absent from their classes gains awareness for the event, the main goal of the protestors in the first place.
Concerning safety, students are much better protected while protesting inside the school, as many public rallies take place on public streets making the likelihood of an accident more probable. School buildings are supervised and protected, making students safer than they would be on the streets.
When protests take place within a school, students can access protests more easily than if they would have to commute to take part in a protest that takes place miles from their home. Students attend school every day, and being in the vicinity of a protest may motivate students to take part in an event that could help their voice be heard.
