Small student protests, such as one held recently at Caesar Rodney High School, are designed to shine a light on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement concerns. What do you think schools’ obligations are when such gatherings occur? Are there things that could be done in classrooms to foster awareness and facilitate civil discussions?
My concern would be, if they walked out of school and something happened to them, parents would hold the school responsible. My opinion is to protest after school hours. — Terri Courtney Seeley
And school officials should not be involved nor influence the students! — Kathi Adronene
Do it on the snow days, when school is closed. See how many show up. — George Hall
Have students write original essays with good grammar and punctuation on the subject. Have the best ones for each opposing side read at an assembly. — Diane Smith
Let students practice their constitutional rights. Use the opportunity as a teaching moment to engage them in civic responsibility and to speak truth to power. — James Yamakawa
It’s the kids’ future, and the education system really has only two choices: Let them speak. Or condition them to obey. — CJ Taylor
Our First Amendment rights are under attack from every corner! Our youth have always had the burden of affecting real change in our democracy. Just because you don’t like their message does not mean you have the right to strip away the most important right that the U.S. Constitution provides all Americans. — Jody Sweeney
Their First Amendment rights do not stop at the school doors. — Shannon Foster-Papen
I was heartened to see young people take a stand! I admire the schools for giving them a window of time to do it. It is actually educational and part of the fabric of America. Women would not be able to vote without protest. Black people would not be able to vote, go to the same schools, etc., without protest! American history is filled with citizens exercising the right to protest for basic human rights! It can be a really teachable moment for the whole student body, whether they are for or against the right being protested. You don’t see students protesting every day. They actually are smarter than we give them credit for! — Annie Cook Miller
First, there should be a conversation about why they are protesting. Second, there should be some education on First Amendment rights, its protections and the responsibilities included in those rights. Then, properly organize the protest, including whatever parental authorization is needed. — Tiffany Cole
No. Keep it outside of the schools and on their own time, whether it be for or against an issue. — Diane Iverson
Personally, I believe the freedom of speech also includes religion, beliefs and protesting. But for a school to allow students to leave the facility and disrupt the education of students is absolutely unacceptable. If they had done this before school, after school or on a weekend, that would have been fine. A “school walkout” is inappropriate, no matter the age of the participants. — Berton Lee Gartrell Jr.
I don’t walk out midshift at work to go protest. If I have a civic event I want to participate in, I take appropriate time off to go do so. Kids have the job to go to school, and nothing should disrupt the school days of those who want to go and learn. If parents want to allow their children to attend a civic event off school grounds during school hours, so be it. These things should not be held at school. — Melissa Eierman
Schools should stop encouraging lawlessness, socialism and communism, and start teaching Americanism and love of country. — Philip L. Puschel
Students have the right to protest, as others have said. The school has an obligation to keep students safe during school hours. Protests typically aren’t violent on their own. It isn’t like protesters are attacking each other; another force has to be present. And that isn’t the protesters’ fault. If you protest when it doesn’t affect anything (work or school, etc.), it doesn’t mean anything. It is why worker strikes work, because they are stopping production. People don’t want students to protest because they realize it’ll actually do something. Otherwise, why try so hard to stop it? — Gin Sabatino
This isn’t the first time. Students protested during the Vietnam War, and the right to protest is inherently American. — Torie Adams Baker
We are paying how much in taxes for our students to learn? They are there to learn; they can protest before or after school. — Eddie Morris
Three days of suspension. No college recommendation letters from any school staff members. — Mike Schwander
Considering our school test scores, they need to be in class! Safety is a concern, as well. — Donna Oman
Come on, they can’t vote. They just want to cut class. — John Buchheit
This was not a good look for the school (walking out of class) in light of just receiving a large tax increase — especially adding this cost to older adults on fixed incomes. It could have occurred on a Saturday, but I wonder how many students would have shown up. — Gregg Ferriner
It’s a right of all Americans to protest. However, it should not be during school hours. Students have to be held accountable for following school policies. Protesting is not an approved excuse for missing school hours. — Patricia Carmine
