Student-led walkouts enhance voices

January 12, 2022

Although student activism takes shape in many forms, walkouts have been one of the common ways that students have voiced their opinions about important issues. From national conversations to concerns at Park, students have been confronting the administration and hosting safe spaces to address issues including gun violence, racism and sexual assault. 

In the past, spreading the word about protests and walkouts has been difficult, but according to  sophomore Lola Powers, due to social media, the effects of the walkouts have been amplified.  

“When there’s a whole bunch of kids standing outside of a school going against something, that speaks volumes. This year, we’ve really been using social media as a tool whereas, in past years, it’s just by word of mouth,” Powers said. “I remember when I was in sixth grade there was a walkout, and it didn’t spread as far as the recent walkout we had because social media wasn’t being used as much.”

Walkouts and other student-led events are usually held during school hours and while that may decrease time inside the classroom, for English teacher Mary Knudson, the learning opportunities at walkouts are equally as educational for students. 

“What I mainly deal with and try to get across to students is stories, language and empathy. What’s a better way to get stories than to be at a walkout where people are sharing their stories that are immediately relevant to you and to the school?” Knudson said. “To me, that is an educational experience akin to an English class. It’s not taking away from any kind of instruction, it’s actually enhancing instruction.”

(Walkouts are) just a starting point that only creates awareness. We need to come to the classroom and talk about it — address the issue one-on-one, in small groups and in class discussions

— Hanna Anderson

School administration cannot prohibit students from speaking out against issues, but there are other limiting factors as to how far the protests can go, according to assistant principal Jessica Busse. Busse said it’s necessary to understand the limits to what both students and administration can do.

“(Due to) free speech, the only limit is if it becomes a disruption to the educational facility,” Busse said. “Students walking out of class does not prohibit other students from learning — if (student) activism is not prohibiting others from learning, then it’s fine. If the walkout creates a situation where other people aren’t able to learn or access learning, then that becomes an issue.”

Overall said she has seen the interest in student advocacy grow this year, due to a shift at Park. 

“Tons of people come in and want to work and want to learn — not even just in activism, just in general at our school,” Overall said. “(At) the walkout there were a lot of … voices being heard and a lot of people coming out about their stories.”

However, Anderson said walkouts on their own are only effective temporarily and that in order to make a lasting difference, dialogue needs to continue elsewhere.

“(Walkouts are) just a starting point that only creates awareness. We need to come to the classroom and talk about it — address the issue one-on-one, in small groups and in class discussions,” Anderson said. “In the end, we (need to) give the floor to students to bring out their opinions, their ideas and provide space and time to talk about certain issues in the classroom.”

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