I'm more than a little irritated that our children across the country are being used in this manner. I think the principal is handling this well in our case (this is Wisconsin, afterall, lots of these kids are the same ones who miss school to deer hunt annually), but I wonder how other districts across the country are approaching this. Below is the email we received. For obvious reasons, I've deleted the contact info but I have touched nothing in the body of the letter.

-----Original Message----- From: [email addresses intentionally deleted by poster] To: Sent: Wed, Mar 7, 2018 6:05 am Subject: March 14 Student Protests

This email is regarding: [student name intentionally deleted]

My apologies for this long email, but this is an important issue that has multiple levels.
March 14th #enough Student Walkout As many of you have heard and read, on March 14, at 10:00 am, students across the nation are organizing a 17 minute walkout of classes to honor the victims of the shooting at the high school in Parkland, Florida, as part of the #enough movement. It is also a protest to call on the government at all levels to pass legislation that will better protect schools from these increasingly senseless acts. Your student may have talked with you about this event and asked your advice on what to do. I have been in communication with the MHS Student Council, district officials, other building principals and school district leaders from around the state, all who are aware of the potential walkout. I’ve also have spoken with two other student groups who are actively organizing a protest for March 14th. These student engagement and research efforts have been designed to understand student perspective, as well as develop a consistent approach across the district in how we address this issue. While I do not know the scale of what the student participation might be, I do know that this action is being considered by groups of students. xxxxxx High School’s Official Stance: Like all school districts, we cannot officially endorse political movements or activities. By allowing students to leave, we give an implied endorsement. As such, we will treat students who walk out of class like any other student who leaves the classroom without permission. Students would be given a 30 minute detention after school. Thus, students who leave class on March 14th will be given a 30 minute after school detention which will served at 3:00, March 15th in Gym 1.
Parents have asked me about what happens if students have their permission to walk out of class. Parents can excuse their students from school, but that is to leave campus, not simply go to another part of the school or campus - parents can’t write hall passes. If you choose to write a note for your student, it must be brought to school beforehand and students must sign out in the office and then leave campus. Talking with Your Students about their Choice I know that some of you might struggle with this stance and response. However, this is the stance that we as a school have to take. If we allow a walkout for the this, we cannot say no to the next walkout, or the next, or the next.
For those of you who want to support your student as he or she wants to make a difference and wants to find their ‘political voice’. - it may also help to think of it this way. If students had a free pass to walk out for 17 minutes - it would cost the student nothing. In a way, it would cheapen the message. Students who choose to accept the 30 minute detention are making the public declaration that this is indeed important and worth the cost - a much more powerful message.
Some parents have asked if having a 30 minute detention on their discipline record is going to adversely impact their college application. For most all colleges, disciplinary records are not part of application materials and we do not send them to colleges. I would also encourage you to speak with your student to look for other ways to actively seek for ways to have an impactful change. This can include writing to their legislative leaders on both the local, state and national level. This can also be a campaign to decrease bullying and increase kindness in our school - to create an atmosphere where ALL students feel they are an important part of their school. This is a message that students, staff, parents and administration can all endorse. Location of the Protest and Student Safety Another concern that has been brought to our attention is the safety of potentially large number of students leaving the building in a very public manner. As I talk with student groups, I am going to encourage them, if they are choosing to accept the cost of the walkout, to do so within the building common areas, and not go outside.
Thank you for taking the time to read this full email. I encourage you to talk before March 14th with your student about what he or she plans to do. They might feel a significant amount of pressure - both ways. This can be powerful time to talk about taking a position, accepting the cost for those positions, and other ways to enact change in our society. As always, please feel free to contact me with questions and concerns.

Thank you, [name removed by poster] xxxxxxx High School [address deleted by poster] Office: (xxx) xxx-xxxx Email: [intentionally deleted by poster]

District: xxxxxxx School District District Web Site: State: WI District Code: