What Does it Mean to Engage in a Walkout?

Protesting is the art of enacting change. Although most recently, you may recognize it as an excuse to miss your AP Chemistry exam. The purpose of walkouts has really changed over the course of just this past year. What is the purpose of a walkout? Well I really couldn’t tell you-- not when we have one every week. The idea of walking out of school for a cause became popular last year on April 20. Schools called for a nationwide walkout to mark the 19th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School (the deadliest high school shooting in U.S history before the Parkland shooting). NEST+m’s students in particular as well as many other NYC schools marched to and gathered at Washington Square Park. 

The walkout helped protest violence in schools, and called for stricter gun control measures. Taylor Clanton ‘20, a student who delivered a powerful speech at the walkout, said “Most of us last year were too young to vote, but the walkout gave us an opportunity to let our voices be heard. It’s undeniable when thousands of kids walk out of school. It’s undeniable when hallways are empty. The government was forced to listen to us then. I think that there was a huge impact, and more walkouts done with that same level of passion can too have the same effect.” There’s only so much us students can do; the real action happens when we reach those in charge. Students seemingly left the walkout with a greater sense of unity amongst their peers, strength within themselves, knowledge about what’s going on, and reassurance about the future. You can’t replicate that impact, and you can’t put a price on those feelings either. That is what a walkout is supposed to leave you with. 

So let’s talk about what changed this year. Climate-- climate changed apparently, and so we had to leave school-- some of us. The Global Climate Action Strike took place in over 100 countries, and was inspired by 16 year old Greta Thunberg’s weekly protests about climate change. To summarize, due to harmful chemicals in gasoline, fossil fuels, greenhouse gases, etc., the ozone layer is depleting. This results in the earth being exposed to the sun more. With this amount of exposure, and at this rate, some cities may be under water in the next 50 years or so. You may think to yourself: well how can we control and change that? Stella Fusaro ‘21 says “I understand that climate change is important but I don’t get how missing school to walk out is going to solve the issue. Schools can’t really do anything about climate change and it sounds like an excuse to miss school.” And I’m not going to lie: I thought the same, but it may not be about that. Mia Slate ‘20, president of the Environmental AwareNEST club shares her thoughts on the walkout, saying, “Climate change is really important to me. Not a lot of teenagers know how intense it is, and a lot of people have the ‘Oh it’s far I’m fine’ mindset and it’s not okay. My hope was that people would start to think twice about their actions after the walkout.” One point of a walkout is to raise awareness and educate, and I believe the climate change walkout did that. Amanda Cordero ’20 attended the walkout and claims, “The walkout made me feel empowered and really proud that so many kids like me and even younger kids were able to have their voices heard. A lot of the people who spoke made it clear to others that these are our lives on the line, and we won’t be going to school and college if New York is underwater.” Hearing the feedback from participants, and seeing the rally of the walkout, illustrated that no matter the cause power in numbers and passion will always get you somewhere. Like did you all really think climate change was a burning issue until you saw your classmates leave school and join them? Exactly. It did something. 

Less than a month ago students tried to organize another walkout after The Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand on March 15. Is that really necessary? It’s getting a tad bit disrespectful at this point. Sometimes it’s more honorable and effective to just stay in your seat, and get your education, and that’s what we CAN do. Not every issue requires a mass walking out and cutting class. There are other ways to show your respect and care for the cause. Have you guys ever thought about what your teachers may feel about walkouts? They can’t walk out because they have to teach --Speaking of which, how must your grades feel after this?-- after all that “walking out”? Anyways, I’m sure all of our teachers support us wanting to get our voices heard, and to fight for what we stand by, but are they hurt that we’re skipping their class? Do they think walkouts are pointless? Do they want to participate in the walkouts? Mr. Andrew Wells, supervisor of the Environmental AwareNEST club at NEST+m says, “Yes I am in support of purposeful walkouts, I think that there are many ways to show support not just by walking out, real change happens with laws being passed and by pressing the legislation. Showing that young people care and want change about issues like these is what drives change.” Mr. Chandler Wells says, “The gun violence walkout to me made sense, the climate change one though eh. Walkouts are purposeful when people are committed to it. Causing a disruption, getting people to hear what you have to say, getting the people directly involved with the issue, and people that can effectively enact change is powerful. Real action happens with legal change.”

Moral of the story: you can pretty much have a walkout about any cause. Just make sure you know how to make it an impactful one. Have passion and power in numbers and it’ll go the way you intend it to go. Know your voice, know how to use it, know why you’re using it, and people will listen and follow.