Though students and teachers across the country will walk out of school on Wednesday in protest, Horry County Schools will not allow its students or teachers to join the National School Walkout.
Thousands of schools are expected to participate in the national demonstration, according to EMPOWER, the group organizing the protest. Students and teachers will walk out of their schools at 10 AM, for 17 minutes, to honor the 17 victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. They also hope to push lawmakers to pass stricter gun control laws.
Though Horry County Schools will not permit students or teachers to walk out of school, spokesperson Lisa Bourcier said all high schools, and most middle schools, will be able to show their solidarity in other ways. she said many will hold moments of silence, wear the Stoneman Douglas school colors, write letters to school administrators or state representatives, or hold walkouts inside school buildings.
“There is lots of concern that we have as a community and as a nation. I think they were very interested in letting Marjorie Stoneman Douglas know that we’re here to support them as a nation and a community,” said Bourcier.
For North Myrtle Beach High School sophomore Zeta Sharp, that isn’t enough. “We’re trying to speak out on something that’s happening nationally. They’re silencing our voices, our thoughts, our beliefs,” she said.
Sharp still plans to join the National School Walkout, despite Horry County Schools’ stated policy.
“I’m doing it because it’s what I believe. These kids were our age. It was a high school just like ours. It could have been our high school. We need to stand up for the kids our age, to let them know they’re not alone,” Sharp said.
Bourcier said the main reason the district will not allow students to walk out of school is safety.
“We have 44,00 students in our school district. Imagine all of them wanting to walk out. And of course it’s publicized very well so we believe it is a safety concern,” she said.
However, Sharp argued that fear speaks volumes. “If they’re afraid for us to go outside then that just goes to show obviously something needs to be done,” she said.
According to Bourcier, any student who does walk out of school tomorrow will face suspension. “We have a policy for leaving school without permission so that could be the consequence if they choose to do so,” she said.
Though she’s not afraid of disciplinary action, Sharp said a suspension would get her kicked off the soccer team. Instead, her dad is isigning her out of school so she can walk out. She encouraged other students to do the same.
“Looking back on high school you’re not going to remember being scared of getting suspended. You’re going to remember actually getting up, standing up for what you believe in,” she said.
