Regarding the recent staged walkout of Totem Middle School Students, it is my opinion that nothing like this occurs unless things are at crisis stage. These children are crying out for help and relief from a dysfunctional and intolerable lack of safety. I applaud their strength and courage to do what was necessary to get the communitys attention.
These concerned students are attempting to deal with a situation that the adults have chosen to ignore. How did our schools ever become a place where students and teachers are terrified to walk the hallways? When did we let the hoods take over? It is time for all of us to take responsibility. It is time for parents, teachers, principals, the Marysville School District leadership, the city council and law enforcement to all come together and deal with a crisis that the should never have occurred in the first place. It is time we adults started acting as adult-like as these courageous good kids.
These concerned students do not deserve retribution or punishment. They deserve an award for having the courage to call attention to a crisis that we adults have chosen to ignore. Perhaps a severe spanking is in order but not for the kids. They deserve a pat on the back. We as a community owe them that and we owe them their safety in a place of learning.
Jeff Maki
Marysville