When kids walk out of school to protest ICE

A student who walked out of her Fremont, Nebraska high school last week to protest ICE was hit by a car driven by a teenage driver, reports KETV. The driver was cited for leaving the scene of an accident, the student who was hit was cited for walking on the roadway, and several others were cited for criminal mischief and theft, obstructing a police officer, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.

"Despite claims to the contrary," these walkouts "are almost never spontaneous expressions of student speech," writes Erika Sanzi of Defending Education on Outkick. Schools could be held liable if staff "actively or tacitly" allows students to leave school -- without their parents' knowledge or permission -- and things go wrong.

"We have already seen students fighting at the state capitol in Minnesota during a school walkout," she writes. "Large groups, heightened emotions, limited supervision, and public spaces create foreseeable risks: injuries, traffic incidents, medical emergencies, or physical altercations."

Elsewhere, videos show students scuffling with bystanders, throwing things at cars and -- who knows why? -- tossing their school-issued laptops.

To have any impact, students have to show they care about the issue, not just about getting out of class. Pro tip: No flags except U.S. flags and check the spelling on signs.

"Bluegrasspatriot" posting a clip showing elementary students, including second-graders on a protest march led by an adult. I sure hope it's a private school and that every parent signed a permission slip.

School districts are trying to balance student safety with students' free-speech rights, writes

Evie Blad in Education Week. Administrators can't prevent students from leaving school. They can threaten them with disciplinary action for an unexcused absence.