Cheltenham and Abington students have organized anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) walkouts on Wednesday, February 11.
Cheltenham School District
Dr. Brian W. Scriven, superintendent of the Cheltenham School District, sent a notice to the school community today regarding a student-organized schoolwide walkout on Wednesday from 11:45am – 12:30pm.
According to the notice, the walkout is being led by “several student Cheltenham High School groups” and “is intended to protest the tactics and presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).”
Dr. Scriven noted that the demonstration is not school-sanctioned.
“While the administration respects our students’ right to free speech and values the expression of their diverse perspectives, we must also maintain our commitment to instructional integrity and student safety,” Dr. Scriven wrote.
He also noted that students who choose to leave class during instructional time will be recorded as having an unexcused absence for that portion of the day.
The notice continues:
We ask that parents remind their child(ren) to check in using the ScholarChip system upon returning to the building. This allows us to ensure that all students have safely returned and are properly accounted for. Our primary objective is to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and staff. Leaving the classroom or school building without authorization creates significant safety concerns and is a violation of school rules. For security reasons, only Cheltenham High School students and staff will be permitted on school property during the protest window.
Instruction will proceed as scheduled for all students who choose not to participate. Staff members will be stationed to supervise those who do leave class to ensure an orderly environment. These measures are not intended to discourage student expression, but rather to uphold our obligation to maintain a safe and productive learning environment.
Abington School District
According to an email thread between superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Fecher and Joseph Rooney, an Ardsley resident and Chairman of Abington Township Rockledge Borough Republican Organization (ATRO), students have allegedly organized a walkout on Wednesday from 7:45am – 8:45am at Abington Senior High School.
In an email on February 3, Rooney said the walkout “is a violation of Board and Superintendent Policy. We are not paying taxes for wasting time and indoctrinating our kids.” The email included the following attachments, allegedly obtained from a parent in the district:
“The Abington School District does not sanction, endorse, or organize the demonstration you reference in your email,” Dr. Fecher replied the same day.
On February 4, Dr. Fecher wrote:
I write to confirm receipt of your email. Students at Abington Senior High School approached school administration about interests in planning a walkout as a form of protest, as has been occurring in schools throughout the country and our region. Neither the District nor the High School have sanctioned, endorsed, or organized such an event. Students who leave class or school without permission will be subject to consequences in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct. Dr. Swift, Abington Senior High School Principal, has communicated these parameters to students and families. Staff members have also been reminded of their obligation to duties per Board Policy.
On February 5, Dr. Fecher responded to another email from Rooney which includes a series of questions:
Which students approached whom in school administration about conducting a political rally on school property? Five students approached Dr. Swift. I will not share their names with you due to privacy laws.
Are any of these students related to members of the school board? No.
Did your staff forward that request to you? Aren’t you the one who gave, at the least, tacit permission (Wink, wink, nod, nod?). No. Permission was never granted. I never addressed the students as Dr. Swift spoke with them. In fact, it was discouraged by the high school administration and consequences were discussed.
Why didn’t you simply refuse permission for this political rally? The board policies and SAPs are quite clear on this subject.
As I explained in my “form” email, there is no permission for this walk out.
I saw your note to staff warning them not to participate in this theater. How many of your staff took and active part in encouraging this event? I received no complaints about any specific individuals. As you can see, my note to staff was to ensure that all staff received a warning and as the leader I reinforced expectations to adhere to policies and job responsibilities.
According to an NBC10 article published on February 6, students from Phoenixville Area High School, Cherry Hill High School East and North Penn High School walked out of class on Friday “to protest ICE and show support for immigrants.”
A spokesperson with the Phoenixville Area school shared a statement with NBC10 that read in part:
This was not a district sanctioned event, however, we appreciate that our students are concerned about their community and acknowledge and respect their desire to be engaged citizens. Our priority is maintaining a safe environment for learning and today, in collaboration with our staff and local law enforcement, we monitored and supervised the walkout and students returned to the building for the remainder of the school day.
According to a FOX News article published on February 5, some of the high schools across the country which have allowed students to leave class to protest ICE “have failing academic records, according to recent data.”
For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.