Your ability to learn can be affected by the conditions at your school.It may be time for a good old fashioned protest.As you seek the support of the student body and other faculty members, you need to know your rights in these situations.Petitions, sit-ins, and walk-outs can be used to sway the school's policy makers.It's important to keep pressure on the administration while trying to avoid conflict during protests.
Step 1: You have the right to protest in school.
So long as you don't disrupt school functions.In order to prevent other students from attending class or other faculty members from doing their jobs, you have to speak, hand out flyers, or wear a piece of clothing in support of a cause.Suppressing speech on the grounds that they dislike it doesn't count if the activity is deemed disruptive by the school.The First Amendment gives students in the United States the right to speak out against changes they don't like.Let anyone who tries to stop you know that you can speak on any topic you want.
Step 2: Pick a topic that you feel needs to change.
To drum up support in the community, decide on something specific to your school or district that you feel is a big issue to protest over.Topics might include the distribution of the school's budget, a dress code you disagree with, lack of resources available to students, or unfair treatment of students by faculty.You can drum up local support for your school's issues by addressing them.It will be easier to get help with a problem that affects everyone in town with kids if the community is artistically inclined.
Step 3: You can register your protest with the American Civil Liberties Union.
If your protest is related to larger societal concerns, such as gun control laws or police brutality, look into work being done by national support networks or organizations.They can help coordinate your school's participation in the nationwide demonstrations of solidarity.If you add your protest to the list, others will know about it and come join you.
Step 4: You should be aware of what punishments your school may use.
During student protests, there are often threats of suspension or detention.Not every student who protests can be punished, but leaders may be targeted in order to discourage others from following them.You can counter it by increasing your demands.While you can be punished for missing class, being given a worse punishment based on the nature of your protest is not legal.Don't break the rules with your protest.There is nothing you can do if you are protesting on a sidewalk.One of the leaders should keep a low profile, avoiding speech making and drawing attention to themselves.The more outspoken leaders can step up to lead and state that they won't give in unless the original leaders are allowed to come back to the protest.
Step 5: Faculty are willing to help you.
It may be difficult to find anyone, as they may fear the backlash of the school's authority figures themselves.If there isn't anyone willing to speak with you privately, ask them their thoughts on the issues you want to protest.If their opinion is in line with yours, use the opportunity to discuss what can be done about the concerns you have.Faculty members can offer advice and assistance on how to persuade adults, and better frame and explain your arguments to the community, if you listen closely to any feedback.
Step 6: Discuss your concerns at a school board meeting.
Most states require agendas for public meetings to be posted before they happen.When issues important to you are considered, you want your classmates involved in the protest.You should have done a lot of research on the subject.You have to be able to talk about how the benefits of current policy are either poor or non-existent if you speak this way.If you discover that your concerns have an economic impact on the district or school, bring up how addressing them can help save money or be worth the investment in the long term.The public is allowed to speak at most meetings.You might have to put your name on a sign.
Step 7: If you are old enough, join the school board.
If you or anyone in your group is under the age of 18 years old, then consider having them gather the required amount of signatures and fill out the forms to be on the ballot for the next school board election.School Board elections have small turnouts.If the graduating class has candidates in positions that their classmates will vote for, the school board may rethink its position on certain issues.You can use this to your advantage.If the classmate wins the vote, they need to commit to more duties beyond just the protest issues.
Step 8: You can schedule a time to speak with the school authority figure.
Sometimes all it takes is asking the other party if changes can be made.You will be surprised by what can be achieved.Depending on who they are, they may dismiss you immediately, but you will at least have asked politely before taking a more aggressive tone, not allowing your behavior to be blamed for talks going south.If the principal's secretary orders you not to schedule an appointment or if they blow off appointments, don't allow yourself to be taken advantage of.If you're ignored, try reaching out to a higher authority than you are having problems with.Let your principal know that he isn't listening to student concerns and that you will get his attention.
Step 9: Bring petitions to the school authority.
On a piece of paper, state your cause for gathering signatures, and when you approach students to sign, have them print their name and include a form of contact.If you want to have a database of your supporters' information, you have to make photocopies.When enough signatures have been gathered, you should include a letter stating how many students agree with the cause you're fighting for, and ask for an appointment to discuss the petition.Authorities may try to stop you from having a signature gathering.When gathering new signatures, don't bring filled out sheets with you.If they try to bully you to stop or take your pages, you can contact your congressperson or the American Civil Liberties Union.If you keep a jar or cup with you, you can say you'll be using it to make prints and photocopies.
Step 10: If it's within the dress code, wear clothing with any message.
Schools often have "content-neutral policies" that are not based on the messages they give off, but rather about the item itself, to avoid issues based around censorship.A school can ban hats as part of the dress code, but they can't ban someone from wearing a hat that's pro-NRA or has something on it.Some schools ban clothing with inappropriate material on it, such as violence, pornography, drugs, curse words, or something racist.Adding a patch to your uniform is a way to support your cause.You won't be going against the dress code if you do this.
Step 11: A walk-out rally is needed.
Since your school's funds are based on attendance, students missing class will get a huge reaction from the administration who will want to put a stop to it immediately.In order to get as much attention as possible from those in the school and onlookers to your protest, have all the student supporters meet in an easily noticeable location.You can either make a chant of what your protest is about or make signs in support of your cause.The attention of reporters and journalists can easily be drawn to a walk-out.If you want to keep the media out, hold an indoor walk-out in the school lobby, auditorium, or gym.
Step 12: School administration should be forced to listen.
If you are having a hard time getting your voice heard, have student supporters crowd into the main office of the school.You'll be causing students to miss class, but also disrupting work at the school, which will be costing it money.They may issue out punishments to make you leave if you refuse to leave until your demands are met.Meeting your demands will end the protesting if you can reason with the principal that giving out punishments won't get students back to class.A principal who wants to get the students out of their office may just punish everyone involved.
Step 13: You can ask for support from your local congressperson.
Since public schools and publicly-funded charter schools are funded by the government, you can reach out to your local officials for help.You will be put in touch with their case worker if you contact their offices.A call from a government official to your school can make the difference.
Step 14: When dealing with the police, be weary.
When trying to have students removed from the premises during a sit-in, police may be called in as an intimidation tactic.Chances are you can reach a compromise with the officers if you agree to move the sit-in students from the office to the hallway.Police may make arrests if an agreement can't be reached.Not every student can be arrested, but protest leaders may be targeted to discourage others from continuing.Ask the student supporters if they are willing to be arrested for the protest.If a lot of people say yes, you can pursue more aggressive protesting tactics.
Step 15: Understand the risks and rewards of being in the media.
Increased pressure on the school to change its ways will come from getting the public's attention.It can make them look weak by refusing to give in for the sake of looking strong.Reporters may not want to go to the school if they are arrested, so make sure you invite them to report on a rally set off school property.The media can help to serve as moral support for the students by showing how important their protesting is in helping to bring policy change that benefits students' experiences in school.
Step 16: Keep the student protestors' spirits high.
In the case of longer protests, you'll want to help prevent students from giving up.If you want to keep the energy going, try coming up with multiple chants to change between, have the protestors march around the campus, and hand out drums, noise makers and other musical instruments to accompany your rally.Each time your principal hears a car horn, he will realize that you made a sign to have passing cars honk their horns if they support your protest.To schedule and invite students to new protests, use social media, and to keep discussion of the issues going outside of school.