OPINION:
Why does the teacher who gave a student a failing grade on a quiz given during the National Student Walkout believe the political event undermines our Constitution — when the First Amendment grants us free speech (“Calif. teacher defends lowering student’s grade for participating in ’highly divisive’ walkout,” (Web, March 19)? The walkout should be compared to a fight for human and civil rights, not a basketball game. This teacher has missed a valuable opportunity to teach the students a lesson on how to advocate for themselves.
I am a master’s student, and I do wonder from time to time whether a shooter will come to my campus. Every student has the right to feel safe in their learning environment. They have the right to speak up and demand something be done, especially if their lives depend on it.
The march might have seemed trivial to some people because it was led by students, but we need to remember that these students are only a couple of years away from becoming adults who can vote. Their voices matter now.
MARY NGO
San Jose, Calif.
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