Protests

There has continued to be a lot of gun violence in our country, and the breaking point for many came last month in Florida, when a gunman killed 17 students. Since then it has been fascinating and gratifying to me to see the reaction of students around the country. They are beginning to speak up about their rights to go to school in safety and their requests/demands that something be done to change our current mishmash of gun laws.  I think that it is going to take the efforts of this generation to make a difference. I heard something on a news show yesterday which explained why this generation may be the ones to finally get change pushed through. These are kids raised in the digital world, in which any answer is available in a nanosecond on google. They are not used to waiting for results, which is something we older people often decry as proof of the downsides of technology. But in this case, I think it is to their benefit that they have confidence that the answers are out there and that change shouldn't require an interminable wait.

Last week students across our district (and across the country, I hear) walked out of class onto the school grounds for 17 minutes to remember the 17 students lost in the most recent shootings. Both Joseph and Aubrey participated in this, and I was proud of them. We talked about it beforehand, and I felt like they were walking out in support of those who were killed and as a form of nonviolent protest about gun violence. We talked in the morning about Martin Luther King and his system of nonviolent protests. We talked about how change happens when ordinary people decide they aren't OK with the status quo, and they consistently send messages (through words or through actions) to their elected representatives about what needs to happen.  There is a huge political mudpit that I could get stuck in here, but I will just say that I do not think that reasonable limits and boundaries on weapons and permits and bans on assault weapons in any way endangers the Constitution.

This Saturday Aubrey (and maybe more of the family) will be participating in a protest walk in downtown Vancouver, "March for Our Lives." The march has been organized by students at Aubrey's school, and similar marches will be taking place across the country.

This is the email sent from the school district after the walkouts. I thought it would be interesting to keep a record of it, as I believe that our kids are a part of history in the making.

Dear parents and guardians,

As you know, many VPS students today joined other young people across the country in conducting student-led, supervised walkouts to protest school violence. Others participated in student-led activities that included honoring the victims of the Parkland shooting and writing letters to legislators. We want to thank our students, their families and our staff members for their safe, respectful participation in this learning experience. Today our students made us very proud for expressing themselves in positive and constructive ways, consistent with district policy and procedures.

We will continue to be committed to ensuring that all students feel safe and respected at their schools. If you have any questions or concerns about today’s activities, please contact your child’s school.

Sincerely,

Superintendent Steve Webb