Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster meets with high school student leaders to discuss their safety concerns, plans for alternatives to a walkout and new ways to open the line of communication between staff and students.
According to information provided by Greenville County Schools spokesperson Beth Brotherton and posted on the Greenville County Schools website, in an effort to give students a platform for voicing their feelings and concerns, Greenville County Schools has asked principals at the middle and high school levels to work with their student leadership to determine how or if their students want to participate in March 14th events to remember the 17 victims of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
“Whatever officially occurs at our schools will be student determined and student led, within the parameters the district has set,” the website post states.
“The district’s primary concern about a walkout hinges on safety. Allowing large groups of students to leave a secure building at a predetermined, publicized time poses a security risk. Given the nature of the protest – asking for federal gun legislation reform – we are particularly concerned about the opportunity the gathering would present someone in an unstable frame of mind. We have spoken with all the law enforcement agencies that serve Greenville County and they all share our belief that a walkout poses a safety threat.”
“Additionally, a walkout in support of gun reform legislation could provoke a simultaneous walkout in support of gun ownership rights, which could lead to unrest at school. Properly staffing this event at all locations would be challenging both for us and for our law enforcement partners.”
Discipline will depend on how the student handles himself or herself, whether they are seriously disruptive, and how they interact with other students and adults during the protest. If students quietly walk out for the 17 minutes and then return to class they will not be counted absent. They will be cited for cutting class. In middle and high school attendance is taken each period.
There have been numerous conversations at the district level to give principals guidance in advance of March 14th, the one month anniversary of the Florida shooting. There is a movement to encourage students to walk out of school on that day to advocate for increased school safety and stronger gun control measures. Greenville County Schools is encouraging students to come up with alternate ways to express their feelings.
Student Suggested Alternatives Planned at GCS High Schools
- Sign banners to pledge an end to school violence
- Sign cards for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
- At 10am students can walk into the hallways and sit silently for 17 minutes while the names of the MSDH victims are read aloud
- At 10am students can go into the hallway and lock arms with other students to form a circle around the inside of the school while the victim’s names are read aloud
- Students can wear Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school colors and take photos as a student body
- Display 17 desks in the main hallway with pictures and names of the victims
- Open the media center at lunchtime for students to write emails to lawmakers
- Create t-shirts for students to sell and wear
Student Suggested Alternatives Planned at GCS Middle Schools
- Moment of silence at 10am with names of victims read
- Students will have the opportunity to write letters to survivors or lawmakers
- “Walk Up” not “Walk Out.” Students will be encouraged to reach out to someone who is sitting alone or who they have never met.
- Students will use the website “Answer Garden” to create a kindness word cloud.
- Write thank you cards to first responders
- School wide assembly to encourage unity. Chorus will perform and students will share messages of kindness.
- Start a 17 day fund raiser to an established account for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
- “Black out” to honor victims
- Optional student lead assembly to share information researched about Florida victims and talk about student responsibility in school safety.
- “Walk-out” of first period class and stand in the hallway for a moment of silence
