“I have never let my schooling

interfere with my education.”

—Mark Twain

Regardless of your politics, your allegiances or your stance on guns, we should all recognize the importance of this act by students across the country.

I hope we can all take a moment today, if not more, and watch those who are marching, walking out, pouring from their schools and classrooms to protest against those who have refused to listen. Watch them, hear them, listen to what they are begging for. Do not dismiss them.

Do not dismiss that the role of education and the point of our schools and teachers is to teach the next generation to think for themselves, to recognize problems and discover solutions; to act in a way that will spur the evolution of our culture and society.

Do not dismiss these protests or infer they are the temper tantrums of children while criticizing those same individuals as spoiled kids who expect things to be handed to them. They are refusing to let their schooling and the failures of the school system and the politicians meant to advance it define their education any longer.

Do not dismiss this protest or those to come. Do not dismiss this generation that you have created.

Do not dismiss this moment…