Former student saddened by Bentonville’s actions

I am a Bentonville Public School alum and I am appalled. I browsed on Twitter only to be faced with the reality that students’ voices are suppressed. As a graduate from Bentonville High School in 2015, Bentonville never made me feel like my voice was not valid. Clearly, times have changed and the school board has made its decision.

It was only less than a month ago that those 17 people were murdered in their own high school. As a sign of respect and political expression, students at Bentonville wanted to participate in a walkout; however, their own school district didn’t allow that as an option.

Bentonville school’s Twitter account tweeted Monday stating, “Students who choose to participate in Wednesday’s walkout at 10 a.m. will be counted absent and assigned a detention, in accordance with the student handbook.”

My heart sunk when I read this. It reminded me of what I left and am now proud to have left. As a journalism student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, if I had felt that my own high school blocked my voice, I would not be where I am today. I am in a profession where it is my job to raise my voice and be a watchdog for society. So now, I am doing my part.

To participate in this walkout showed that students do still care about politics, current events, the future and national issues that extend beyond our small town in Arkansas.

I do commend those three board members who disagreed with the majority. Board member Joe Quinn was quoted in Bentonville schools’ Twitter that “He enjoys reading and finds a moment like this to be reminiscent of what he has read on the Civil Rights movement. He says like then, students now are thinking. He says he’s proud of the students who want to stand up and speak their voices.”

Bentonville, what you have done is shown that there is not power or recognition in students’ voices. Have we forgotten the Little Rock Nine? Our own state. They made a political statement to attend the school despite oppression and hate, and they were also young and in high school.

We have been taught and raised to believe that the next generation is the hope for the future. We can make a difference. If we were told this for so long, why would it make sense to silence us now on such a hot topic?

Board member Matt Burgess was quoted via Bentonville schools’ Twitter: “We preach to kids that we want them to be leaders, but when they want to lead, we don’t let them.”

Out of the whole school year, students asked for 17 minutes to express themselves. Fayetteville schools allowed their students to participate but detailed instructions on how they can. As long as they are able to participate, I approve.

Students can be teachers. Age is but a number, and I think these students’ action have reminded everyone that is true.

ELIZABETH QUINN

Columbia, Mo.