National Walkout Day team-bonding activity and how it can be improved

The school’s team-bonding activity April 20 may have been a “remarkable moment of solidarity,” as Principal John Burdett said in his newsletter from the office, but it was unfocused and chaotic on the east side of the main hall.

If we want an event like this to succeed and serve the purpose of the student body coming together, things need to change.

When Dr. Burdett announced for students to move into the main hallway, a student in the 1230-1238 hallway yelled that a school shooting was about to happen. He received cold stares and a few laughs. Clearly, this was not solidarity.

During the 30-second moment of silence, to reflect on those who were lost and how lucky we are to be in Prosper, students were not clear on the lost part — support of National Walk-Out Day, those who died in school shootings, those who died of cancer (Relay for Life), family members who have died. Lost is a strange phrasing with too many meanings and not enough specificity.

During the moment of silence, the long-planned Spring Fashion Show continued in the arena with loud music. When the Alma Mater played over the in intercom, the arena music drowned it out. The lyrics were too small to read on the monitors in the hall so after the first few lines, students hummed or sang another song.

A male student screamed the ‘Heil Hitler’ song, raising his arm to do the Sieg Heil with the confusion of the intercom and the music in the arena. Students around him laughter, then either stayed silent or put the Eagle sign close to their lips making it appear as a blunt, which aligned with that Friday being 4/20.

It is unacceptable for students to act this way. Students need specific instructions, specific objectives, just like what is expected of classroom teachers who prepare an activity.

First, there should be nothing else planned during the time that a school-wide event is happening. In this case, the fashion students had their date booked for weeks, so the team-bonding activity should not have been booked over it. Not doing so defeats the purpose of something that is supposed to involve all students. No one should have to decide between events, especially when the two are completely different environments.

Secondly, students need a thorough explanation of the reasons behind team-bonding activities. In an email that was sent out to teachers describing the plans for the day, Dr. Burdett said that the activities during fourth period would be a time for “students to get to know each other better and to form positive relationships.” Why would students need to know each better with a month of school left? Involve student leadership in this part.

Another event should not be discouraged; however, be more organized, have more communication, show more respect. Students might remember standing in the hall, but the meaning of this event was lost.