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Did district give invitation to future student walkouts?

Uploaded: Mar 20, 2018
Students in Pleasanton joined students across the nation last Wednesday in a demonstration concerning the school tragedy in Parkland, Florida.

Whether it was in memory of those murdered, in support of tighter gun control or great security on school campuses or a get-out-of-class free card depends upon who you ask and your perspective.

What’s striking is the number of administrations across the country that gave students carte blanc to walk out of their classes in the middle of the school day.

Yes, the school shooting across our continent may have raised anxiety among students, although Pleasanton police have a consistent presence on our local campuses.

The horrible irony in the Florida massacre is that it is a flat-out failure of school officials, the FBI and local law enforcement. All three agencies received numerous calls warning about the shooter’s social media posts. They took no action, the responding officer did not enter the school and, as a result 17 lives were lost.

The challenge is what is the best response. The anti-gun folks immediately wanted to further stiffen gun control laws.

With the magnitude of the tragedy—although almost 50 percent fewer students died than perished due to a madman with a hand gun at Virginia Tech—politicians felt compelled to do something.

Politicians in Florida of both parties quickly passed legislation stiffening age requirements to purchase rifles, while House of Representative passed a bill allocating more money for school safety. Never mind, that some of these shootings (Connecticut) and the murder rates (think Chicago and Baltimore or Oakland) have taken place in states with stringent gun

Others advocated for hardening school sites with armed teachers or guards and metal detectors (these are used at some schools battling gang violence). A high school shooter was killed today by an armed school resource officer after injuring two students with his firearm.

Pleasanton Superintendent David Haglund’s letter to parents indicated that the district would welcome more conversations about this issue and others. Conversation and discussion is good—sanctioning further mid-day walkouts without consequence is not.

We all have a right to protest and take acts of civil disobedience. Cut out of class and there should be consequences. Protesting before or after school is fine—during the school day, there should be consequences unless district leaders are rolling over.

Another question: what if the walkout were about an issue that conservatives cared about—or whackos on both sides of the political spectrum embraced. What’s the district’s position then?
Community.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Michael Austin, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Mar 20, 2018 at 3:28 pm

Michael Austin is a registered user.

Why did Superintendent David Haglund limit his letter to parents only?
I do not have children in PUSD schools, my home is a couple hundred feet from Foothill High School. I have an interest in school, neighborhood safety discussions.


Posted by Sam, a resident of Oak Hill,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 7:47 am

“Another question: what if the walkout were about an issue that conservatives cared about..."

Conservatives don't care about school shootings?


Posted by Sam, a resident of Oak Hill,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 7:54 am

“Others advocated for hardening school sites with armed teachers or guards and metal detectors (these are used at some schools battling gang violence). A high school shooter was killed today by an armed school resource officer after injuring two students with his firearm.“

An article that you will never ever see Tim Hunt mentioning because in his simplistic world “good guys" never ever have accidents:

- - - -
“2 “good guys with guns" accidentally fired them in schools on Tuesday"

“Trump wants to arm teachers. Two accidental shootings in one day show that's a dangerous idea"
Vox : Web Link


Posted by Jake Waters, a resident of Birdland,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 8:33 am

@Sam

This is exactly why you (Sam) are irrelevant. You immediately start with identity politics followed by baseless, stupid, and ignorant comments. You get away with it on ‘Tom's' blog because the two of you are of the same breed. You won't get away with it here.

Hey Sam what if the teachers took the kids out to stand across from Planned Parenthood clinics and protested the killing (abortions) of 321,000 kids a year? Would that fit in your small world?


Posted by Sam, a resident of Oak Hill,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 8:53 am

@Jake

You start off a post to me with your very first paragraph entirely, 100% devoted to personal attacks? Didn't even bother to read any further. You can try again discussing issues rationally with me after you grow up.


Posted by Craig Jio, a resident of Alamo,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:41 am

Sam, I would be interested in your answer to Jake Water's question, "If teachers took kids out of class to stand across the street from Planned Parenthood to protest, would you have a problem with that?". Once the content of the protest determines the validity of pulling the kids out of class, the school district has opened themselves up to a lawsuit. If you want to protest school shootings, go on your own time, before or after class. Just like any other protest.


Posted by Sam, a resident of Oak Hill,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 10:29 am

@Craig Jo

That question presupposes that only teachers motivated these protests and that the students were nothing but their passive drones, which I don't accept. I'm not interested in playing games with people who ask loaded questions. Don't think that you're worth my time, either, if you don't recognize the simple fact that it was a loaded question.


Posted by Craig Jio, a resident of Alamo,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 10:34 am

Sam, not sure why you are so defensive. You jumped into this debate with an opinion, so I am simply following up with a clarification. It is not a loaded question. It is a simple question. For clarity, let me rephrase it, the question is, should a school district authorize students leaving class for a protest? Pretty simple issue. Yes, or no?

My opinion is no, as it opens the district to litigation if they do not authorize students leaving class for protesting other issues.


Posted by Sam, a resident of Oak Hill,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 10:49 am

@Craig Jo

It was a loaded question, period. Jake Waters throws them out all the time. And if you can't acknowledge the simple fact that it was a loaded question and not simply one that needed more “clarity", then I think that you're intellectually dishonest and that there is no foundation for rational discussion here.


Posted by Pleasanton Resident, a resident of Downtown,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 1:45 pm

@craig Jo
Does this mean you won't answer, these events were sanctioned by the schools in almost all cases so here we are, a group of indoctrinated students supporting a view held by the state (school) by protesting to have their Constitutional rights diminished and you don't seem to see a problem.
Suppose the district gave the students the go ahead to protest (ie a free day out of school which is what it was for 99%) planned parenthood would you be as tolerant?

And the clocks were striking thirteen


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 2:12 pm

I have no problem with students becoming involved politically. Many are already eligible to VOTE! Tens of thousands are willing to die for their country when they join the US Military.

There's a long tradition of social protest in the United States! VIVA AMERICA!

I find it reassuring that young Americans acknowledge the dangers of guns in the wrong hands and are exploring ways to define limits. It's too easy to dismiss young Americans because they are just "children". This is their country to and they are being respectful demonstrating what it means to honor free speech.

GO STUDENTS! VIVA ESTUDIANTES! GORA!


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 2:57 pm

DKHSK is a registered user.

Sam,

My God are you disingenuous and dishonest.

First YOU ask the loaded question of Tim by asking "Conservatives don't care about school shootings?", then have the temerity to accuse Jake of doing the same.

You are beyond parody.

Deflect away, dude.


Posted by Sam, a resident of Oak Hill,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 3:08 pm

@DKHSK :"First YOU ask the loaded question of Tim by asking "Conservatives don't care about school shootings?"..."

*sigh*. Oh, great. It's Dan again.

No, Dan, the question I wrote there was not a loaded question. It was a rhetorical question. Please look up the definitions of “loaded question" and “rhetorical question".

And finally, Dan, for your own safety as well as dignity, please, please, please STAY IN THE SHALLOW END OF THE POOL!


Posted by Craig Jio, a resident of Alamo,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 3:39 pm

Sam, with all due respect, your comments seem very rude and personal, and extremely overboard to the point of bullying. I thought this forum was a place to have polite, respectful, debates and conversations. You jumped into this debate, and then personally attacked someone who asked you a question, and subsequently did the same thing when I simply tried to clarify an issue you had with the question.

Not sure what your deal is. Do you post comments(apparently constantly)with the goal of persuading others to see your position and agree with your analysis? If so, being extremely rude and offensive is not the way to do it.

Getting back to the topic that you jumped into, once again, I simply am concerned that if school districts authorize students to leave class to attend an anti-gun violence rally or protest, they open themselves to litigation if they penalize students who leave class to protest other issues in the future. The school districts can publicly support anti-gun violence, and support students being active, but not during school hours.


Posted by Sam, a resident of Oak Hill,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 4:06 pm

@Craig Jo

Please. If you scroll up and look at how both Jake Waters and DKHSK made their entrances on this forum, you would notice that both of them came out blazing with personal attacks on me in their very first paragraphs, which is a simple, plain fact that you apparently chose to ignore. So, no, I don't consider you to be fair and unbiased individual here.

As for your latest three paragraph post in which, upon skimming, the first two paragraphs appear to be devoted to attacking me, I think that you really need to realize that I'm not interested in your opinions on me. Try doing away with the personal attacks and amateur psychiatry and stick to the subject.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 5:51 pm

DKHSK is a registered user.

Look up CONTEXT Sam.

And please, answer the questions rather than belly- aching that Dan and Jake are flaming poor little Sammy.

Put on your your big boy pants and debate.


Posted by Michael Austin, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 7:49 pm

Michael Austin is a registered user.

Sam:
I recommend that you google how dumb am I. Then take the am I dumb intelligence test that pops up.


Posted by Michael Austin, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Mar 21, 2018 at 8:00 pm

Michael Austin is a registered user.

I consider my self to be conservative and I do care about school shootings.

As I mentioned leading off on this thread, "I have an interest in school, neighborhood safety discussions".

When one makes disgusting comment "conservatives don't care about school shootings" is simply stating his own deep personal feeling of indifference on the issue.


Posted by Jake Waters , a resident of Birdland,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 1:35 am

@Sam
You are not interested in discussing anything. I have watched you over the year on Tom's blog and you behave as an attack dog to everyone whom disagrees with Tom's identity politics. By the way, I did pose a question to you on my last comment: What if the teachers took the kids out to demonstrate in front of Panned Parenthood? Is that acceptable?


Posted by MichaelB, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 8:13 am

MichaelB is a registered user.

"I find it reassuring that young Americans acknowledge the dangers of guns in the wrong hands and are exploring ways to define limits. It's too easy to dismiss young Americans because they are just "children"."

@Cholo

Actually it's quite easy because that's exactly how they are behaving. Mass shootings are supposedly the "fault" of "assault weapons" and the activities of the National Rifle Association. And you supposedly "don't care" about children or safety if you disagree or oppose them.

Little, if anything, is being mentioned about law enforcement failing to stop Cruz after repeated contacts with him, the FBI being tipped off about him wanting to carry out a school shooting, and school officials wanting him to be involuntarily committed. If things were done differently in any of these situations Cruz would have either been intercepted and/or prohibited from purchasing a gun legally due to a background check system flagging someone in a prohibited category.


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 8:41 am

@MichaelB "Little, if anything, is being mentioned about law enforcement failing to stop Cruz after repeated contacts with him, the FBI being tipped off about him wanting to carry out a school shooting" Michael are you trying to make some fake news?

foxnews: "Alleged Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz was reported to FBI, cops, school -- but warning signs missed"
cnn: "A series of failures in Florida shooting mark week of stunning revelations"
washingtonpost: "The FBI said it failed to act on a tip about the suspected Florida school shooter's potential for violence"
USA Today: "Numerous missed opportunities to alter Florida shooter's path, records show"


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 10:16 am

I admire students that are behaving appropriately and exercising their right to organize and protest. They have obviously gained a great appreciation for our Constitution and have a legal right to exercise their constitutional rights. Thank You TEACHERS/PARENTS for doing an EXCELLENT job educating American youth!

Many are already 18 yrs. of age and nobody seems to be too worried about youth serving in the armed forces and being trained to kill fellow human beings... men, women, children, animals, plants,and destroying other civilizations, etc.

If volunteer adult observers are needed to stand by while they exercise their rights, I'm in!

VIVA STUDENTS! VIVA TEACHERS! VIVA PARENTS! VIVA AMERICA! GORA!


Posted by MichaelB, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 10:50 am

MichaelB is a registered user.

"Michael are you trying to make some fake news?"

@Chris

No fake news. Media outlets have covered Cruz - but that's not what the "walkouts" were about and media coverage given to them.

Just a fake "gun violence" protest instead. These kids don't seem too upset about law enforcement failures and/or how the current background check system could have stopped Cruz if he'd been committed or arrested/charges. Why aren't they protesting in front of the Broward County sheriff's office or FBI HQ instead?

The predictable (and fake) left wing solution - blame "assault weapons", the NRA, and demand gun bans for those having nothing to do with mass shootings.


Posted by MichaelB, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 11:07 am

MichaelB is a registered user.

"An article that you will never ever see Tim Hunt mentioning because in his simplistic world “good guys" never ever have accidents:“2 “good guys with guns" accidentally fired them in schools on Tuesday"“Trump wants to arm teachers. Two accidental shootings in one day show that's a dangerous idea""

@Sam

Increased security measures on school grounds, whether that involves instructors being armed or not, is preferable to listening to kids chanting/marching with "End gun violence" or "Stop the NRA" signs. Or promoting firearms bans based on cosmetic features for those having nothing to do with mass shootings. Acts of mass violence are committed by disturbed individuals, not objects or organizations supporting the 2nd Amendment.


Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 11:21 am

@MichaelB So are you walking back your statement: "Little, if anything, is being mentioned about law enforcement failing to stop Cruz after repeated contacts with him, the FBI being tipped off about him wanting to carry out a school shooting."

As for your attacks on student protesters, saying that they are behaving like children and that they are holding fake gun violence protests, you have failed to acknowledge a simple fact that these students clearly understand: every mass shooting involves a gun. Students are calling into question what types of guns people should have access to if any at all. What is fake about that?


Posted by MichaelB, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 12:20 pm

MichaelB is a registered user.

"As for your attacks on student protesters, saying that they are behaving like children and that they are holding fake gun violence protests, you have failed to acknowledge a simple fact that these students clearly understand: every mass shooting involves a gun. Students are calling into question what types of guns people should have access to if any at all. What is fake about that?"

@Chris

There is no such thing as "gun violence". Firearms of any type don't commit acts of violence - and no one is being forced to misuse them. That's a simple fact. Do they really understand this? Some adults don't appear to.

Cruz shouldn't have had access to any guns (legally)if he'd been involuntarily committed as recommended and or arrested/charged for previous offenses. The current background check system would have noted this. Law enforcement should have engaged him immediately when returned to school grounds with weapons - they didn't. The FBI didn't follow up on tips.

All these students "understand" and are "calling into question" is that a certain type gun (which is rarely used in crime per FBI statistics) is to blame for what happened in Florida and that restricting/banning it is somehow a "solution". And the NRA is "complicit" in violence because they oppose it/participate in the process of electing people supporting the 2nd Amendment. Sounds pretty fake.

Acts of mass murder are a little more complicated. Almost all of the people carrying out these events have questionable backgrounds/display symptoms of mental illness before carrying them out. These students clearly understand little, if anything, about law enforcement and criminal justice matters.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 1:19 pm

If "these students" understand so little, how appropriate is it to recruit them for military service and to train them to kill other people defined as the "enemy"? After all, tens of thousands, men & women recruits are merely 18 yrs. old.

What do parents feel and think about 18 yr. old American youth being trained to kill? And, how do parents of vets feel when their daughter/son is killed in combat, severely maimed,returns with Complex PTSD, or develops alcohol/drug dependence to cope with the trauma of action?





Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 1:30 pm

MichaelB...Have you ever served our country in the military? During a war?
If you have children, are you encouraging them to voluntarily join the marines, army, navy, etc? Just curious.

If your children are in the military, they will have a heads up and know how to defend our country and of course, themselves and comrades.

Or is it in the cards for you to encourage them to do their duty, and be trained to kill the enemy?

just asking...




Posted by Chris, a resident of San Ramon,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 1:59 pm

@MichaelB "Firearms of any type don't commit acts of violence - and no one is being forced to misuse them. That's a simple fact. Do they really understand this? Some adults don't appear to." Well machine guns, rocket launchers and tanks don't commit acts of violence so should we be allowed to have those? (What people are questioning is which guns should be covered under the second amendment)

It is interesting that you know what all the protesting students understand, how ;many of them have you discussed the subject with?

As for terminology, just replace "gun violence" with acts of violence committed using guns.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Mar 22, 2018 at 4:40 pm

18 yr. old student attaches gun to drone and fires:

Web Link


Posted by Mike, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Mar 23, 2018 at 3:46 am

Still waiting for Sam to answer the Planned Parent Hood question.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Mar 23, 2018 at 2:48 pm

Planned Parenthood: Web Link

Mike: I don't recall your question?


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Mar 23, 2018 at 2:52 pm

Mike...are you also "MichaelB"?

Unable to locate your question re: Planned Parenthood.


Posted by BobB, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Mar 24, 2018 at 9:16 am

BobB is a registered user.

Hi All,

Have you looked at what Australia did regarding guns? It seems they enacted gun control laws that do seem to have been effective in reducing gun violence in Australia.

Web Link

The Australian solution would probably run in to constitutional problems in the US, but we could do incremental things in that direction that would not. Also, the constitution has lawful mechanisms for changing it. Amendments can be amended, and the second amendment seems most in need of change -- What is a "well regulated militia"...



Posted by Buc Lau, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Mar 24, 2018 at 10:23 am

Yawn...


Posted by BobB, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Mar 24, 2018 at 11:28 am

BobB is a registered user.

@Buc Lau,

Your opinion on what was done in Australia?


Posted by Buc Lau, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Mar 24, 2018 at 11:39 pm

@BobB
I don't live in Australia ... double yawn...


Posted by Samantha, a resident of Amador Estates,
on Mar 25, 2018 at 11:03 am

Sam has quite the attitude. I hope he doesn't own a gun. Mental health check please.


Posted by BobB, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Mar 25, 2018 at 11:58 am

BobB is a registered user.

People would rather insult each other than discuss the issue at hand?

Oh well.


Posted by Me, a resident of Del Prado,
on Mar 25, 2018 at 1:07 pm

Some people here seem to know and have an opinion about the author of the article. I have not read his blogs closely enough to have an opinion about him personally. I'm not sure what that has to do with the heart of this story.
"Did district give invitation to future student walkouts?"
I certainly hope not. That would be a mistake.
I believe in their right to rally in any cause that is important enough to them to generate a rally (or protest).
However absolutely not during school hours. School hours are for school.
It is not complicated.
And by the way, yes of course something has to be done to make school and those school hours safe for our kids. Exactly what that is will require some brilliant ideas from some bright people. What we need is an apparatus to brain storm those ideas and put them into motion.


Posted by MichaelB, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Mar 25, 2018 at 3:29 pm

MichaelB is a registered user.

"Also, the constitution has lawful mechanisms for changing it. Amendments can be amended, and the second amendment seems most in need of change -- What is a "well regulated militia"..."

@BobB

You aren't going to get enough states to amend it. Good for the states who won't. What needs to be changed is the left wing mindset that guns "cause" violence and criminals do not/are "victims" of gun manufacturers and the NRA.

Firearms ownership/the amount of people with concealed weapons permits has been steadily increasing while crime has been falling.


Posted by MichaelB, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Mar 25, 2018 at 3:35 pm

MichaelB is a registered user.

"It is interesting that you know what all the protesting students understand, how ;many of them have you discussed the subject with?"

I don't have to. Listen to them talk. Or should I say pout.

The predictable left wing response to ANY well publicized act of violence - blame guns, the need to restrict legal ownership (for those not involved with crime), and the NRA. Nothing about how new regulations would not have stopped what took place at Parkland or the long history of criminal activity/mental instability of Cruz which law enforcement failed to act on.


Posted by BobB, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Mar 25, 2018 at 4:18 pm

BobB is a registered user.

@MichaelB,

Australian style gun regulations probably would have stopped the Parkland shootings.


Posted by Pleasanton Parent, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Mar 27, 2018 at 8:00 am

Pleasanton Parent is a registered user.

BobB - engaged parents, the local authorities responding to a clear threat, and the FBI focused on real threats would DEFINITELY have stopped the Parkland shootings.


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