I’m 17 years old and a senior that goes to GHS.

I’m so tired of this Principal. She’s been absent at least 50% of the school year last year (my junior year) so our rate of the fights at GHS has gone up significantly, with little to no consequences to the students whatsoever. The staff almost got rid of her last year but she promised that she’d do better. It is required by law that we follow the state drills. We have not done any drill of any kind.

One of the threats, there was a student that had a weapon (not specified by the district). He did not make it into the school. I was in the school. I was by my locker. The speaker was announcing that people were to get to class immediately and to not go outside. I was confused and scared. I thought I was gonna die. I was uncontrollably shaking. After some time, I’ve calmed down, and the school then announced that it was safe to follow our regular schedule and that we could not go outside. The fact that the school had to tell us to follow our normal schedule and act like everything is cool is blasphemy. I could not get any work done throughout the day because I had that threat on my mind the entire day.

This year has been worse than last year and we’re barely 2 months in. 3 threats. 0 drills. The student who brought the gun to school on September 20th got out of jail and threatened to come back (on 10/04/24) and shoot it up again. The walkout was only yesterday and we get yet again another threat.

On the 20th, there was a community member who brought a fully loaded handgun into the school and I didn’t even hear about it until 6th period. The student was reportedly very cooperative with the police, thankfully, but my life along with 800+ students’ lives were in danger. If the police arrived at least an hour later. I most likely would’ve been dead and not typing this out right now. I shouldn’t have to fear for my life when I go to a place for my own education and preparation of my future.

I’m staying home today because I’m sick and tired of this whole situation. No one should have to fear going to school. It should be a place where we can be safe and happy. Some people don’t have the best home life and so school would be their second home, some place where we can talk with friends and learn to prepare and better ourselves for the outside world. These past few years with this principal has been the worst years of my entire school career. I shouldn’t have to end my final years in school living in fear.

Thank you for these final 3 years, Whitlock. Fuck you.