Encourage students to speak

We would like to express our support and admiration for the many students in the Spokane area who chose to stand for their principles by participating in the walkouts or whatever form of protest they were allowed on March 14. They stood in solidarity for safety, for action and in remembrance of the students who have died in school shootings. These students are our future and it is heartening to see that they are ready to participate in our civic process and make their voices heard.

However, it was disappointing to see various schools and/or districts denigrate this student activity by threatening sanctions and thereby aligning themselves with the cowardly acceptance of the status quo. This was an exceptional teachable moment in civic duty that these educators failed to support.

We encourage the students to continue to speak out and thank them for giving us hope for the future.

Joe and Maureen Schneider

Spokane