Supt. Meri Skilliter wrote on Ada Schools Facebook that walk-outs will not be sanctioned at Ada Schools. Her response to the political issue follows:
Dear Ada Parents and Students:
We have been made aware that a national movement is in the works that is encouraging high school students to stage walk-outs in support of gun control. While we understand that the issue of guns is prevalent in the minds of students, this type of action poses some problems for the district.
While we understand students’ passion on the topic, if the school were to sanction or bless a walk-out for this political issue, we set a precedent that would require us to allow walk-outs for all political and/or social issues that come up. Surely, you can see how this is a slippery slope. Secondly, students walking out poses some safety and supervision issues. And finally, I worry that students will be caught up in the walk-out while not really understanding all aspects of the issue, and I feel strongly that no national group should be exploiting our students to support their causes.
Students who participate in a walk-out during school hours will be in conflict with student code of conduct that prohibits cutting or skipping class. As such, any student who chooses to participate in a walk-out will have consequences for that infraction, most likely an extended detention. If a student has already had an infraction of this rule, the consequences will be more severe and progressive in nature with each infraction, as with any repeated rule infraction.
However, we think that this is a wonderful opportunity for families to have discussions with their children about this topic and to do research on both sides of the argument. If parents or students feel strongly about the topic, one way or the other, we encourage our students to use the provisions that this country allows for having influence on laws and policies, such as writing or calling one’s legislators, writing letters to editors of local papers, etc. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how laws come to be, how laws are changed, and how democracy works.
In my recent blog, I mentioned that safety begins at home. This is also a great time to talk to students about things in their control that may help reduce violence in their schools, including offering kindness and including others who may seem lonely or excluded in our conversations and activities. I am pleased with the efforts of our Navigators group to spread kindness and positivity, and I am proud of the way in which they promoted support of their peers in Florida involved in last week’s tragic school shooting. They encouraged faculty, staff, and students to wear maroon in those students’ honor/memory. We have shared a message of “Say Something” with middle school and high school students as well, which can make a big difference, as many acts of violence are preceded by hints and clues, often through social media, in which our students are immersed. Please encourage them to report things that seem unsafe for the person posting them and/or for others.
Thank you for all the kind words and support we have received over this week, as we help our students and staff process this latest tragedy, while trying to maintain structure and “normalcy” in their school environment. It is a colossal task, and we couldn’t do it without the support of our amazing community.
Gratefully,
Mrs. Skilliter, Superintendent.
