Apr 4, 2018 2 min read

I was conflicted by Dave Ball’s commentary on the Peters Township student reaction to the recent school violence. His Easter Sunday message on compassion and cooperation between students and administration in fashioning a response to the Parkland, Fla., shootings was uplifting. However, his view that the response of other students across the land protesting gun violence with signs and staging walkouts was somehow disrespectful or inappropriate was misplaced.

I could not agree more with Ball’s approval of the decision of Peters officials and students to focus on reaching out to isolated, depressed and angry “loners” to make them feel wanted and part of the school community. This approach is sorely needed in addressing school violence. However, this does not make the collective will of other school districts and students in addressing the problem of gun violence with signs, a march on the Mall in Washington, school “walkouts” rather than “walk-ins” and advocating gun control as any less admirable.

Young students are the ones who are dying. They have earned the right in our pluralistic democracy to make their voices heard in an attempt to influence their elected officials. Whether the message is compassion/mental health or gun control it is all political, designed to change the status quo. Whether the process is a planned ceremony on campus or marching in the streets, it is all a form of protest.

In truth, the many variants of student responses to gun violence are welcome and long overdue. What is needed is not respect from the students but rather action from the adults.

Gary Stout

Washington