On Feb. 3rd, at 8:15 a.m., teachers gathered next to the flagpole in the main visitor parking lot to take a stand against the racist actions that occurred on campus two weeks prior. For nearly 40 minutes, teachers and staff stood out in the early morning in solidarity with the victim of the actions. Valerie Campodallorto, parent, who stood with staff, said; “I just wanted to be here to support all of the teachers, and specifically, the teacher who’s been targeted and treated so unfairly by parents, from football games and from a student.”
While Dan Habinek, special ed teacher, spoke to the crowd just before they were to head inside, he said; “There’s so many lessons learned today by our students who had the courage to do it in the right way.” Referring to the student walk-out the day before. “People ask me all the time as an instructor, ‘What are you teaching these kids on a day-to-day basis?’ It’s what they’re teaching us.”
After the walk-in, in an email, Liza Taylor said; “I teach American Literature, and Henry David Thoreau discussed the importance of ‘Civil Disobedience’ in his essay of the same name. It is imperative that members of society voice their opinions and concerns in a PEACEFUL, civilized manner. I am proud of the students who stayed on campus and decided to ‘Sit Out or Talk Out’. I’m disappointed in the students who left campus just to ‘get out of class’.”
Also in an email, English teacher Katie Anderson said; “I AM SO PROUD OF THE STUDENTS WHO WALKED OUT. They saw a problem and devised a peaceful way to address it even if the problem didn’t impact them directly. They were standing up for the greater good. They made their voices heard and, I hope, have started a conversation that will lead to real change. I am so excited for our future because it will be in the hands of people your age who are connected to something bigger than themselves, who think of the greater good, and who find ways to address issues that they believe need to change. […] Thank you for taking on the issues that my generation still hasn’t been able to solve. Sorry we couldn’t do more for you.”
At 8:45 a.m., staff clasped their arms, and marched inside the school’s front gates, and into the day ahead.