A New Generation

Dear Brandeis community,

 

When I was in fifth grade, I attempted to organize a walkout with a couple of close friends, to speak out against what we perceived to be the unjust war the United States was preparing to enter into in Iraq. Walking out was a kind of speech available to us as young people, as students, that could extend beyond the walls of our classroom and our school. We talked with our parents about it; we wrote up petitions; and we spent a week talking to our peers about the plans. By the day before the planned event, we had about 100 signatures from other fifth and sixth graders, ready to walk out with us. That morning our principal called us into her office, sat us down, and explained that she had no choice but to suspend any kids who walked out. In the face of administrative pushback, the list of 100 dwindled to just the three of us, who walked out and accepted the consequences, with neither a national movement nor school leadership there to affirm our voices.

 

So, with that as a backdrop, I share with you this note I put out on Twitter yesterday morning, as our middle schoolers led a joint rally against gun violence along with student leaders from our neighbors KZV Armenian School and St. Thomas More. It was a particular joy to be able to support our students’ voices, from the other side of the desk.

 

Wishing you all weekends full of hope, my friends.

 

Warmly,

 

Dan