Walkout At Bloom A Student Idea Embraced By Administration

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL - Students at Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights took part in the National School Walkout event Wednesday morning, but no student had to go outdoors to have their voice heard. In fact, students worked with school administrators in organizing a program to remember the students killed in the school shooting last month in Parkland, Florida.

Just before 10 a.m., an announcement came over the school's public address system inviting students who wished to walkout of their classrooms into the hallways, where they would listen to a speech written by senior Jorge Vasquez.

"Violence continues to be a plight that we live in," Vasquez said in his speech. "Yes, school shootings and the losses they bring are heartbreaking, however, any life loss to violence is horrific."

Vasquez honored the victims of the Florida shooting, which occurred exactly one month before the walkout. Those in the Bloom community who have been lost to violence were also remembered.

After Vasquez read his statement, the school bell rang 17 times to honor every fatal victim of the Florida shooting.

While Bloom was just one of thousands of schools across the country taking part in the National walkout, the details behind how their event came to be are a bit unique.

Some schools threatened students who took part with different forms of punishment and others closed campuses to the media, but not Bloom. The administration at the Chicago Heights school was more than helpful and transparent in helping the students who wished share their voice.

"Initially, our principal, Mr. (Scott) Savage put together a team of student leaders and we were going to do something simple like an honors brunch," Vasquez said. "But given what happened with the Florida shooting we decided to take initiative and put on this program."

The program, it turns out, was put on completely by the students. Savage told Chicago Heights Patch that it was important to allow the students to have their voice heard on this issue.

"We believe it was better for the students to take initiative ourselves," Vasquez added. "Had it been the teachers or administrators doing it, it would not have resonated as much."

Watch here as students stand in silence in memory of the 17 victims of the Florida school shooting.

Alyssa Dancy, another Bloom senior, was with Vasquez on the student committee that only took up one class period a week ago in organizing the walkout activity.

"It was good for us to have a chance to honor those who lost their lives," said Dancy, who noted that school officials were not going to punish any student who walked out even before the brief presentation was planned.

Vasquez added that while students who did not want to participate in the walkout were asked to remain silent in the classroom to honor the victims, that to his knowledge every student participated.

After the bell rang 17 times for each of the Florida victims, the students returned to their classes and completed an otherwise normal school day. Some students signed a "peace pledge" after the walkout.

Dr. Gregory Horak, the director of climate at Bloom, said the walkout was "a great sign of respect from our students for other students."

"Our students came together to put this program together with the guidance of the administration," he said. "They came up with these ideas, which speaks to the passion our kids have and for us giving them a voice. They aren't just students, they are our future. Our students have a lot to be proud of."

Top photo courtesy of Mary Compton