Hundreds of Students Walk Out of Schools in Suburban Denver

Community members are angry about an evaluation-based system for awarding raises to educators and a proposed curriculum committee that would call for promoting "positive aspects" of the United States and its heritage and avoiding material that would encourage or condone "civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law."

By Jesse Paul Denver Post
Printer friendly  
Jefferson County students from Chatfield and Dakota Ridge high schools walk out of class to protest school board decisions and proposals Wednesday morning, September 24, 2014. ,(RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post)

In the largest protest this week, several hundred Jefferson County students left classes Wednesday morning in protest of school board decisions and proposed changes to history curriculum.

At least 700 students were at the intersection of Ken Caryl Avenue and Chatfield Boulevard by mid-morning. Most of the students were from Chatfield and Dakota Ridge high schools.

Some of the students waved American flags and held signs that said, "Don't make history a mystery," which has become a slogan of this week's walk-outs.

"Education without limitation!" students chanted.

Several Jefferson County sheriff's deputies were at the scene, along with school administration members. Several cars drove past with kids waving signs.

About two hours after the protest began, a student leader urged his classmates to return to school.

"Let's show them we respect out education!" the leader said over a bullhorn. Most of the students walked away from the protest by about 10:15 a.m.

"It was kind of just spur of the moment," said organizing student Ashlyn Maher, a Chatfield senior who helped create the Facebook page for the protest.

"I heard one teacher was so moved by people leaving that she started to cry," Maher said.

If you like this article, please sign up for Snapshot, Portside's daily summary.

(One summary e-mail a day, you can change anytime, and Portside is always free.)

Jordan Gleason attends Columbine High School but she came anyway to support the cause.

"We've really got to fight for what we believe in," Gleason said, adding that she didn't show up for class Wednesday.

"I'm not going to lie, there are kids here (just skipping class)," said student organizer Scott Romano, a Chatfield junior. "But the majority of us are out here for the right reasons."

Tuesday's student walkouts happened at Arvada West, Pomona, Ralston Valley, Wheat Ridge and Golden high schools and included hundreds of students bearing signs who flooded the intersections of major thoroughfares.

More than 100 Evergreen High School students walked out of classes Monday morning to protest outside of the county's school administration building in Golden where they met with the district superintendent.

Students said they organized the protests on Facebook.

"I respect the right of our students to express their opinions in a peaceful manner," Jeffco superintendent Dan McMinimee said in a statement Tuesday. "I do, however, prefer that our students stay in class."

A student and parent from Bear Creek High School also called The Denver Post to announce they would also be protesting Wednesday morning.

Two county schools also closed Friday after a 50-teacher sick-out.

Tensions have been mounting in the school district as students and teachers push back against district leadership.

Community members are angry about an evaluation-based system for awarding raises to educators and a proposed curriculum committee that would call for promoting "positive aspects" of the United States and its heritage and avoiding material that would encourage or condone "civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law."

The Jefferson County School Board now is being ridiculed on Twitter by a new trend called #JeffcoSchoolBoardHistory.

Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul