By Maddy Vitale
A somber silence fell over the grounds of the Ocean City High School football field Wednesday morning, as more than 200 students bowed their heads in silence for 17 minutes, a minute for each of the victims of the Feb. 14 Parkland, Fla., school shooting.
The Ocean City students participated in the National School Walkout, to call for tougher gun control laws in the aftermath of the Florida school shooting.
While media outlets were invited to attend the walkout at Ocean City High School, they were kept in a separate area, away from the walkout itself, so it was difficult to hear the remarks students were making while standing on the opposite side of the football field.
Also, the school did not make students available to the media for interviews. School officials noted in a press release that security and safety were the main concerns when deciding how to organize the event.
A steady stream of students poured onto the field. A male student waved an American flag. One sign read: #Enough is Enough. Another student carried a blue Trump sign in support of President Donald Trump.
Ocean City police officers stood at the football field’s Fifth Street entrance for crowd control.
Alice Rinkavage, of Ocean City, stood outside the fence peering in, along with about four other spectators. Only students and faculty were allowed inside the football field, aside from the area for the media.
The walkout brought a tear to Rinkavage’s eye.
“That’s our future out there,” said Rinkavage, whose grandchildren go to Ocean City schools. “That is our hope. Look out there. I had to be here with them.”
Remarks from some of the students could be heard faintly, despite the gusty winds. But one comment was clear: A student said into a microphone that there would be a second moment of silence, so that another mass school shooting does not happen again.
A statement from the student body and organizers of the event was in the press release. It did not list any students’ names.
“As student leaders of Ocean City High School, we believe that political engagement and activism should always be encouraged,” the statement said. “The first step to fixing a problem is recognizing that it exists. We are both raising awareness to gun violence in schools and taking action to combat it. We intend to bring awareness to recent events as a part of a movement that is much larger than ourselves, our school, and our community.”
The statement continued: “The number of students no longer here today, due to school shootings is unconscionable and unacceptable, and by continuing our education and involvement we are ready to be the change necessary to end this. We know that we, the students, are capable of making a difference. Fear does not belong in our schools.”
School officials also commented in the press release.
Ocean City Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Taylor said, “The Ocean City School District prides itself in giving our students a safe venue to have their voices heard and their opinions explored.”
She said the district looked forward to hearing what the students had to say and would support the students in their journey in solidarity along with ensuring their safety.
Ocean City High School Principal Matthew Jamison said the district encourages the students to be actively engaged citizens, knowledgeable about current events and study multiple sides of any issue. “Above all, we want them to know we value their voices and their right to self-expression,” Jamison said. “In conjunction with the national movement, students who choose to walk out will be provided and opportunity to gather in a designated area.”
In addition to the high school event the Ocean City Intermediate School participated in the national walkout its own way.
Intermediate School Principal Geoff Haines said in the release that students would focus on lessons about kindness in their “Kindness Challenge.”
“Our Kindness Challenge continues to nurture and foster kindness activities which will positively impact the social and emotional well being of the students,” Haines said.
The seventh and eighth grade students walked out of class to assemble in the gymnasium and write down their thoughts and concerns on a notecard.
Haines added, “If just one idea or improvement comes from this, then it was a success.”
