After the devastating massacre in Parkland, Florida, students and teachers feel outraged at outdated gun laws and terrified that something similar could happen at another school. The 17 deaths at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were tragic and traumatizing for so many, so it is only just that we honor those who have fallen and stand up against the gun filled world we live in today. In addition to the several marches all over the world, schools nationwide plan to have a walkout to show unity and power against such heinous acts.

This Wednesday, March 14 at 10AM, students from schools everywhere intend to walk out of school as an act of civil disobedience to make a statement against mass shootings in schools. The walkout will last 17 minutes, each minute representing a moment of silence for the 17 who were killed in Parkland. After the Women’s March Youth EMPOWER group proposed this nationwide event, students everywhere decided to take the initiative to organize similar walkouts in their own schools.

“The day we got back to school, I had parents and students crowded around the main office asking to speak with me. The first opportunity they had, they should up at the front doorstep asking for the school’s cooperation with students who wanted to plan the walkout. They wanted to collaborate with us to make it safe for kids while participating in the walkout,” said principal of North Penn High School, Dr. Todd Bauer.

Students, parents, and faculty members feel outraged and heartbroken that such a large shooting had occurred. They wanted to make a difference and do their part by supporting the kids of Marjory Stoneman Douglas and protest against gun violence in schools. When news broke on the school shooting, Bauer was devastated that another fatal event had occurred. These shootings happen too frequently; one is too many. Although he is supportive of students who wish to make a difference, there are many concerns with vulnerability.

“My first concern right from the bat was safety. When you have a group of kids announce a date and time when they are all going to be exposed and outside, that’s a major concern,” shared Bauer.

North Penn High School has decided to take many more security precautions to protect students who plan to participate in the walkout. There will be more security guards, the Towamencin police, and the entire NPHS campus will be locked down so no one can get in as students gather in the bus circle for the walkout.

“The safety of all of our students is our number one priority and it is important that if this walkout does occur, it is conducted in the most secure way,” stated superintendent Dr. Curtis Dietrich in a written message on the walkout posted on the North Penn School District website.

Students can learn many things from this walkout. The walkout isn’t about gun laws and where students stand on that subject. The purpose of the walkout is to stand up against school shootings and rise above these acts of violence. It is expected that students who participate in the walkout are respectful because the idea is to pay tribute to those we lost in Florida, not to use the walkout as a way to get out of class. The walkout is a perfect way to understand your differences. Students are engaging in more difficult conversations and are interested by tricky topics. Some will agree and some will disagree, and that is okay.

Many worry that participating in this walkout will set a precedent: students can instigate a walkout whenever they want. This is not the case. This walkout is for students to honor other students and teachers who were killed and to make a difference. This single walkout will not start a litany of walkouts, it is a national event. 

“Some people are asking me if they can walk out with students, but this walkout is just for students. If they think they can walk out with them, they are missing the point. I’m not walking out with students, I will be out there keeping students safe,” explained Bauer.

Keeping the students of North Penn safe has always been the first priority. While many students feel very safe at North Penn, others are nervous that another mass shooting might occur. The most important thing to remember is that if you see something questionable, say something about it.

“Last year when we had an armed intruder after school, I didn’t even know about it until a couple kids found me and said ‘I saw this guy and something about him didn’t feel right.’ We couldn’t find him on the security cameras so I locked the campus down until we found him,” recalled Bauer.

These things happen everywhere, so it is important to be prepared and alert. While the school is fortified by shatter-proof glass and loaded with security cameras, the true eyes lie in the hallways where students are able to notice changes in their peers and either help them through it or report any questionable behavior.

First it was Columbine High School, then it was Sandy Hook Elementary, and now 17 other innocent lives were lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Enough is enough, now we need to take matters into our own hands. Students are able to build a voice and now have the chance to stand together in an active protest against gun violence in schools.