Massapequa Students Suspended For Not Following Walkout Rules

Some students at the Massapequa High School Ames Campus were suspended after they participated in the national walkout yesterday. District officials say the discipline came because students didn't listen to teachers and staff and violated the district's Code of Conduct by walking out to the front of the school instead of the back.

Students across the country walked out of class at 10 a.m. yesterday for 17 minutes, in honor of the 17 people who were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14. Students in schools across Long Island held rallies, spoke out against gun violence and advocated for reform.

But some students in Massapequa were disciplined for their protest. According to the district, it had planned a "Day of Peace" in the rear of the school building. According to Superintendent Lucille Iconis, it was designed to "allow students to share their voice in a safe and constructive way."

"Less than two dozen students chose their own form of remembrance, which was not in line with the district’s planned event," Iconis said. "In accordance with the Massapequa School District Code of Conduct, these students were disciplined appropriately."

According to the district, the majority of students walked out onto the rear field for the ceremony. But some students decided to walk out into the front of the building, which was against the school's Code of Conduct. Those students received a day of in-school suspension.

"The district’s goal in collaboratively constructing the 'Moments of Remembrance' activity was to provide students with a meaningful outlet to display awareness and acknowledgment of the tragedy in Florida in a setting that prioritizes safety and security of students and staff," the district later added in a statement to Patch. "Students who violated the Code of Conduct by failing to comply with the direction of teachers, administrators or security personnel were subject to disciplinary action."

The administration's decision did not sit well with everyone.

Among those is Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who himself participated in the walkouts on Wednesday. He wrote an open letter to State Education Department Commissioner MaryEllen Elia asking that the SED reverse any disciplinary actions that were taken against students.

"These actions send a terrible message to New York's children and are against constitutional free speech protections," Cuomo wrote. "I call on you to use SED's authority to stop these schools, reverse course and cease any disciplinary actions."

You can read the governor's full letter here.

What do you think of the school's decision to suspend students? Was it the right thing to do, or was it against the students' rights? Let us know in the comments below.

Photo: Patch