Should students have the right to protest at school?

Protesting gives society a way to practice their rights and more specifically, freedom of speech. There has been an influx of boycotting throughout history as it is not a foreign concept. When one looks at protesting today, groups are most common in the endeavor for human rights, politics, and kids’ safety. Although, adults aren’t the only citizens adept at an opinion. Most minors are also affected by changes in the government but feel inferior due to their current age status. This causes a controversial topic regarding the ability of teens to protest.

The importance of protesting trumps the risk for groups of people with limited options. Influential examples that are well-versed in history classes are the Boston Tea Party, The Civil Rights Movement, and the March for Our Lives. Speaking up can help people in powerful positions within the government have a way of becoming aware of perspectives.

When students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School protested outside their school after a year of the Valentine’s Day incident, it created a domino effect in which other schools had walkouts around their schools on the anniversary of the Columbine massacre, which led to the past President at the time, Bill Clinton, catching wind of the situation.

On the other hand, protesting can also be a deplorable way of spreading a message. It can lead to suspension or even expulsion due to past incidents of violence and demolition, inciting a riot, when usually one does not do this at a protest. The probability of brutality in these situations should not be underestimated yet it shouldn’t be an excuse to strip people of their rights.

Although the two are commonly confused with one another, a protest and a riot have one big difference. Protests are used to express disagreement, however, in a peaceful way. Unlike this, a riot is an aggressive disturbance of peace within a crowd, also used to showcase anger or a different opinion about something.

If students keep these protests peaceful, they would be safe to have in a school environment. If teachers wanted to protest, they’d need to be able to do it securely while keeping in mind the safety of their pupils. Nonetheless, the choice is dependent on the behavior of students and how they choose to go about it. Even when a power imbalance is greatly felt by teens, administrators and school boards won’t budge unless a harmonious approach is completed

Written by Isabella Beck | Graphic Designed by Isabella Beck

Published May 4, 2023 | ePathfinder | Perspectives