Temecula Students Will Participate In National School Walkout Day

TEMECULA, CA — One month after the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida left 17 people dead, high school students in Temecula will walk out of class as part of a nationwide effort "to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods." Thousands of schools, including many in California, are expected to participate in the #ENOUGH National School Walkout student demonstrations Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. The walkouts are expected to last 17 minutes — one minute for each life lost.

Here in Temecula, the school district has actually restructured the bell schedule at the high schools so that students don't miss instructional class time. Officials say they'll allow — and safely accommodate — any student observances that may happen at Chaparral, Great Oak and Temecula Valley high schools.

At Great Oak, we're told that 17 students are planning to wear black to represent the 17 students who were killed in Florida on Feb. 14. Some students are also planning on giving speeches.

"At Great Oak High School a new club on campus, inspired by the student survivors at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Students Demand Action is spearheading the 'National Walkout' on campus," said Jennee Scharf, who is a faculty adviser of the group and teaches AP Language and the Expository Reading and Writing Course, tells Patch.

"We expect a large majority of the student population will attend the 17 minute Walkout," she said.

As for the middle and elementary schools, TVUSD officials say they don't believe any students are taking part in the walkouts.

"[The schools and principals] are prepared to independently address and respond to student participation interests that may arise on March 14," the district said.

Organizers of the Women's March called on students, teachers, administrators and parents to participate in the movement.

"Students and allies are organizing the national school walkout to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship," organizers said.

In the month since the tragic shooting, businesses nationwide have taken it upon themselves to raise the age limit for purchasing firearms as well as removing assault rifles from their inventories. This action has been met with widespread criticism from both sides of the gun argument.

Photo by Patch Editor Autumn Johnson