Atlanta’s Grady High School has a long history of social activism. Students honored and continued that legacy today with their walkout for victims of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting a month ago.
Here is why Grady and other high schools have that legacy – they are led by leaders who believe you cannot teach students the value of civic engagement and then deny them the opportunity to engage with the challenges of their time.
This is what Betsy Bockman, the Grady principal, sent the community before today’s walkout.
By Betsy Bockman
Activism...a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action<https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/action> especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue
* political activism
* environmental activism
(Merriam-Webster)
When I was growing up my mother was the definition of activism and it was scary to me because it was all a battle against the status quo. My brain was wired to work within the system (tail end of the baby boomer generation) and my mom was the opposite.
Before I was 10 years old, I marched and attended meetings dealing with all kinds of "causes"-- this would now be called social justice I think. Women's Liberation, Vietnam War, Civil Rights, Pro-Choice, Vegetarianism, Communal living, Latinless Catholic Mass, Farm Worker's Rights, Desegregation, Worker's Rights, Housing Rights, Socialism, Capitalism, The Great Speckled Bird, Nicaragua, and Unitarianism were all things swirling in my home, head, and history. I didn't like it one bit at the time -- I wanted a mom that that wasn't so well, embarrassing. She even wanted to be called by her name, not "Mom"! I mean my mom was eating kale, brown rice, soy beans, and lentils 60 years ago right when all those great frozen TV dinners and Hamburger Helper came out.
I have gotten accustomed to the activist energy at Grady. These kids feel things at very complex and expressive levels. You only need to walk through the halls to see posters and flyers bursting with emotion about the Environmental Science students researching the environmental impact of the Fuqua proposed development across the street; the Ignite Club inviting Atlanta leaders who themselves are on the cutting edge of activism to come speak; our recent Black History program that featured real issues of social justice and injustice in our community and across the U.S.; and mental health concerns plaguing our adolescents.
In addition, voices about the dangerous safety and traffic issues at 10th and Monroe streets continue in loud voices so that Grady student, Alex Hyneman's death at that intersection only two years ago will continue to galvanize the community toward greater pedestrian and bicycle safety for Grady and Inman students.
Now this week, we have the opportunity for students to express their feelings in collective voice in regard to the latest school shooting only one state away which feels just too close, too scary, and too massive to ignore.
Today, during advisement period, students will be given the opportunity to walk to the stadium and participate in a program of activism and reflection as a result of the Miami massacre. Grady is a mixture of voices and feelings--not about taking sides about constitutional amendments. It is a moment in time where students feel the need to be a part of change - even though many are at an age where they can't yet drive or vote.
They want to be a part of the movement, the fix, the feeling, no matter the differences in affluence, native country, religion, political views, race, or ethnicity. The deaths near Miami hurt our community--one of the victims was friends with a number of our students who all attended summer camp together for years. One of our Grady teachers attended the high school and knew well one of the teachers killed.
In some ways, it feels like we all survived another horrible experience which dealt a blow to adolescents in arms. Maybe it was the eclipse which started the year. Maybe it was just a year that we were all destined to experience loss, grief, and to learn to live with loss, and to find greater meaning for our Grady community. We are all learning resilience and strength and courage no matter our age at Grady. Alex Hyneman succumbed to her injuries the same day my mother passed away. Maybe that's why I feel so strongly about making that intersection so much safer than what has already been done.
I understand my mom’s passion and drive -- I got quite a bit of it myself even though I fought against it for years. I use so much of what I observed from those early years in working with our Grady students -- I have to trust them and help guide them as they speak their passion and confusion and love even if it is messy and embarrassing at times. Eleanor Troutman Bockman (Lea) would have loved to be a part of the energy.
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