CHS students honor Florida shooting victims
Coshocton High School students gathered around the flagpole on March 14 to draw attention to gun violence in schools and honor recent shooting victims from Florida. Contributed | Beacon
COSHOCTON – Thanks to one passionate student speaking up, Coshocton High School was able to plan a safe alternative to National Walkout Day.
The movement called for students across the nation to walkout of their schools at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14 as a joint way of calling for an end to gun violence.
“A week or two ago an eighth grade student here called Max Crown (at city hall) and asked what would happen if a group of students walked out of school and surrounded the court square,” said Darcy Nelson, a school counselor at CHS. “Max called Mr. Fauver (principal at CHS) and then Mr. Fauver and I sat down with the student who told us about this movement and how he felt strongly about the issue. We told him we also feel strongly about school shootings and protecting students. We just wanted to work together on a safer idea that showed our unity and feelings without leaving school grounds.”
After a couple of planning sessions they had their ideas together. An assembly was held the morning of March 14, where the student who brought this event to the school’s attention shared what the movement was about.
“He explained that 17 students lost their lives at the (recent) school shooting in Florida, how easy it is to get a gun and that we need to take a stand against bullying and support one another,” Nelson said. “Mr. Fauver spoke too and explained that we’ve had scares here and that if students hear or see something they need to say something. Those who felt strongly about the issue were permitted to walk out of the school and gather around the flagpole.”
The walkouts across the nation were supposed to last 17 minutes in honor of the 17 students who were victims in the February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.
“When we got out to the flagpole students formed a circle and some stepped to the center and spoke about bullying and violence and none of it was scripted,” Nelson said.
Students wrapped up their stance against violence by signing a banner made by the art department, which read #NeverAgain.
“We are going to send it to the school in Florida (Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School) as a way of reaching out,” Nelson said.
Category: Education
