(258 students from Chaska High School and about 125 students from Chanhassen High School walked out of class on Friday, Sept. 5 as a part of nationwide student walkout backed by nonprofit organization Students Demand Action. Chanhassen student Joey Gilardi gives an account of the event at Chanhassen, with additional reporting and interview of Superintendent Dr. Erin Rathke by Kelli Schmitz.)
After the horrific tragedy at Annunciation Catholic Church and School just days ago, the nation has again found itself in uproar and conversations around gun violence. Gen Z students have been at the center of this conversation more than ever before. Following the deadly attack on Aug. 27, Students Demand Action planned a nationwide walkout to give students a platform to have their voices heard.
Chanhassen High School students Noah Aho and Mabel Porthan, both juniors, came together to bring this event to their school. The pair initiated Chanhassen’s involvement with the event, built a social media following that reached hundreds of students and executed the event.
“This isn’t inherently political,” Aho said. “We’re not choosing a stance. We’re not going left; we’re not going right. This is about students dying.”
That sentiment was carried throughout the entire event. No political ideology was tied to any speech given or demonstration performed; the focus was completely on the issue at hand: gun violence in schools.
Porthan also spoke on how this issue impacted her personally.
“I have a lot of teachers in my family — both my parents are teachers. That’s why I’m driven about this. It matters,” she said.
The walkout took place at noon during Chan students’ fourth hour or lunch period. The event lasted about 30 minutes and included student testimonies, a moment of silence for the victims of the Annunciation Catholic Church and School shooting and a look to the future of Students Demand Action’s presence at Chanhassen High School. Students, Chanhassen High School administration members and parents gathered outside the main entrance to participate in and witness the event.
One participating student, who asked to remain anonymous said, “It feels unfair to me. I shouldn’t have to feel scared to go to school; I shouldn’t have to look over my shoulder. When this happens over and over with no change, it makes me feel like the government doesn’t care about me, or my classmates, or my teachers.”
Principal Douglas Bullinger voiced support of students’ right to free speech and assembly and ECCS administration said they worked with students to ensure events were safe and non disruptive.
“We so appreciate our students. They were so thoughtful and planned,” said Dr. Erin Rathke, ECCS superintendent.
The student leaders worked with their building principals to determine proper times and locations for their events and process for coming back into school.
“We had no issues at all. It was done really well. The students were excellent,” Rathke said.
Rathke said the schools have general best practices in place for when students want to hold events like a walkout — how to support it and how to communicate with families. An email went to high school parents last night informing them of the event and how students would be able to participate. She praised the students for their thoughtful planning and their meaningful events.
“One of the values we have in Eastern Carver County Schools is lifting students’ voices. When they are great partners to us, we want to be great partners back and elevating their voices when they want to speak out is a core value,” she said.
Aho and Porthan also shared that they are planning to establish a chapter of Students Demand Action permanently at Chanhassen High School. This means organizing an extracurricular activity that all students at the school are welcome to participate in, with fundraising and faculty advising.
