After Parkland Shooting, Students Advocate For School Safety

MATTITUCK, NY — Students in the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District worked hand in hand with administrators to voice their feelings and advocate for school safety after horrific gun violence left 17 dead in Parkland, FL.

Following the tragic events that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, district officials collaborated with student leaders for several weeks regarding how best to organize events that provide an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful dialogue on the issues and to share their concerns and viewpoints with elected legislators.

“I am so proud of the way our students worked together with our administrators to organize events that created an opportunity for them to express their opinions on important issues such as school safety in a constructive and productive manner,” said Mattituck Junior Senior High School Principal Shawn C. Petretti.

On April 19, all social studies classes at Mattituck Junior Senior High School were dedicated to lessons and discussions on civics. Classroom instruction was designed to define and discuss the differences between protests, marches and working directly with legislators, as well as the historical significance of each, district officials said.

Students also discussed movements nationwide to spotlight school safety after the Parkland tragedy.

On April 20, students had the opportunity to voluntarily walk around the high school track, during their lunch periods, for 17 laps to march for school safety and in memory of the 17 victims lost.

In addition, student leaders from Mattituck, Southold and Greenport, along with their school superintendents and high school principals, met with Sen. Kenneth LaValle and Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo to share their opinions and engage in a conversation about school safety and other related issues.

Photos courtesy of Mattituck-Cutchogue UFSD.