Students to take part in walkout
Events set for March 14
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. » Seniors at Ballston Spa High School reached out to their principal during break last month following the shooting that left 17 students dead in Florida.
The students wanted to do something to honor those who lost their lives, and protest school violence.
March 14 will mark one month since the shooting. At 10 a.m., students will walk out of the school for 17 minutes to honor the 17 lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
“We really believe it’s our civic duty to stand for all students around the country,” said senior Joe McDonald. “It’s fully driven by students, and we’re lucky enough to have an administration that backs us fully on this.”
Principal Kristi Jensen said she’s proud of her students.
“The students have been so intentional in their efforts. They don’t want it to be divisive. It is an optional walk. If students do not want to participate in it, they will stay in their classrooms,” said Jensen.
Senior Joseph Vesic said the event isn’t calling for a ban on guns.
“We respect the Constitution,” said Vesic. “We respect the Second Amendment.”
“Our main point is just pushing Congress for more extensive
“We really believe it’s our civic duty to stand for all students around the country. It’s fully driven by students, and we’re lucky enough to have an administration that backs us fully on this.” — Ballston Spa High School senior Joe McDonald
background checks and limits on weapons of war,” said McDonald.
Students sold T-shirts in school with a hashtag enough followed by End Gun Violence National School Walkout March 14, 2018. On the back of the shirt, dates of past mass shootings are printed. Proceeds for the shirts go to March of our Lives, which is being organized by Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students, scheduled for March 24.
Senior Isabel Rutkey explained how students will exit through the main doors of the building, walking towards the flag pole by the senior parking lot.
“We will have a few people say a few short things about why we wanted to do the walkout, why it’s important to us and overall the importance of address gun violence in this country,” said Rutkey. “Most of us will be 18 by the upcoming election, so if we just encourage people to register to vote and get the idea in people’s head that teenagers can affect change in this country and we can use our voice to make something better that is not so good right now. We just want to inspire students to learn more about this issue, to do something about it and make a difference.”
Jensen said the school reached out to Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office as well as Ballston Spa Village Police to maintain a presence during the time period.
Additionally, Saratoga Springs City School District sent letters home to parents of the high school and Maple Avenue Middle School about next week’s walkout.
“We engaged our student leaders, our teachers, parents, our partners in law enforcement that we really want to make sure that this is a teachable moment for our students and any event we want to make sure that it’s going to be safe and orderly,” said Superintendent Michael Patton. “We have been coordinating with local law enforcement and wanted to share the plan with our students and parents well in advance, so that mom and dad can sit down with their children at home to discuss their decision to participate, because ultimately it’s going to be up to each individual student to decide if they’re going to participate.”
Senior at Saratoga Springs High School, Tess Turner, said the walkout will feature a reading of each victim in Parkland followed by a moment of silence. Student speakers will discuss why they’ve walked out of school, how gun violence affects students and how youth can get involved in activism.
“Throughout the rest of the day, we will have tables outside our cafeteria with paper for students to write letters to their representatives in Congress,” said Turner. “We want to give students a platform for their voices to be heard. Regardless of differing opinions, it’s important to us that students have an opportunity to be politically active if they wish.”
Patton called the walkout an opportunity.
“This is an opportunity for kids to understand they have a strong voice and civil engagement can be a very positive thing. We want them to also learn to express themselves in ways that are respectful,” said Patton. “The school district isn’t endorsing the walkout, but we are here to fully support our students.”
Jensen echoed Patton’s message about the students finding their voice.
“It’s been an incredibly powerful message. Nationwide, and certainly within this community people are listening and they’re recognizing that these kids are voicing their concerns,” said Jensen. “They have a right to be in a school and feel safe.”