Student Walkouts at NPS

By Alexis Mercer
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All across the nation on March 14, students participated in a walkout to protest gun violence and to honor the 17 lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018.

Various walkouts were broadcast live on national media stations throughout the day.

Many of the organized walkouts took place for 17 minutes: one minute for each victim. Others lasted for hours and reached thousands of people.

How did Newaygo Middle and High School students react to this day?

In peaceful reflectiveness.

Superintendent Peg Mathis made staff from all buildings aware of how the students participated in the protests through an email.

“Our high school had a moment of silence and a student read the names of the 17 victims. Some students participated in a "walk-out" and walked the hallways in silence for 17 minutes.  Many students stayed in class. Our middle school had an announcement and a few students walked out and sat in the hallway for 17 minutes.”

The high school building was still and respectful as a student council member read each name of the victims from one month ago.

While some of the walkouts and protests shown on television from around the country depict scenes of shouting, signs and anger about gun violence, the students at Newaygo took a different approach. They chose instead to turn their attention to the victims and make it a time of reflection.