LISBON

Despite the urging of administrators to stay inside the building, a group of six Lisbon High School students walked out Thursday in a demonstration against gun violence and a call for improved school safety.

Unlike other Midcoast school districts, Lisbon took the position that any students leaving the building without permission would face normal disciplinary action for doing so. Parents had been encouraged to notify the school and excuse their children if they knew they were planning to leave the building; only one of the six participants had been excused.

“As a 17-year-old, I don’t see myself as a child,” said student Madison Smit. “I have my own opinions separate from my parents views. I’m worried about my own safety, and my peers’ safety. For them (the school district) to say they don’t want us to do it, it hurt.”

A letter sent home last week by Superintendent Richard Green cited safety concerns with students leaving the building. The letter also stated the school would provide a designated area for students to gather and talk about the issues. Students who walked out Thursday said they believed that event would be rescheduled for next week.

Green wrote: “The Lisbon School Department has serious concerns about the welfare of any student who leaves the safety of our buildings during this planned event and we hope that the organizers of this nationwide event will change their request and ask students to support their position in a more controlled and safe manner prior to the day of the event.”

However, the group said they wanted their message heard by those outside of the school.

“I don’t feel like we should be punished for using our voice,” said student Justin Bernard. “Why would we have a designated area only for students who believe something should be changed just to sit around and talk to each other?”

Smit said she had 72 signatures of students committed to leaving the building. She believed fear of punishment may have been one factor that limited the numbers.

“I think a lot of them feel the same way that we do, but are scared to get in trouble,” said student Gaige Elwell.

The walkout in Lisbon was supposed to coincide with a nationwide demonstration on Wednesday, when students walked out for 17 minutes to share their message and honor the 17 victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. A winter storm, however, impacted Midcoast students’ planned participation, when school was canceled.

Despite the delay, students said it was important to still carry on with the walkout. The Lisbon group lingered longer than 17 minutes to share their message with passing cars.

“We feel that something needs to be done, we feel unsafe in school,” said Elwell. “Nothing’s done. It’s talked about for a week, we mourn, and it’s never talked about again. We feel like Congress needs to do something, anything to try to stop this.”

The group walked to the entrance of the school along Route 196, displaying signs calling for stricter gun laws. They were met with several horns from passing motorists in support.

“We’re trying to get the word out, not just to our peers,” Elwell said.

The group made it clear their focus was not just guns, but overall school safety. They hoped that with teens across the country voicing their opinions, adults would listen.

As the group talked about the changes they would like to see in school safety, they mentioned metal detectors and reinforced doors. They agreed how money is spent by the U.S. should be analyzed, and determined where it could be invested in school safety. Gun safety is a part of the issue to these students, but not the only one.

“The Second Amendment will never change, that’s not what we’re asking,” said Elwell. “People will always have the right to get a weapon. We don’t want to make it harder, just safer.”

chris@timesrecord.com

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