More Student Walkouts in San Diego
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/m...28protest.html
Student protests over immigration proposals continue for second day
UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM
10:23 a.m. March 28, 2006
SAN DIEGO – Hundreds of students marched off campuses or didn't show up for school throughout the county in a second day of protests over proposed immigration reforms.
From today's Union-Tribune
Many students ditch classes to take part in marches countywide
An estimated 800 students walked off from three middle schools and five high schools, said San Diego Unified School District spokesman Steven Baratte. The schools were Memorial Academy, Correia Middle School and Bell Junior High School, and Kearny High, Clairemont High, Morse High, Madison High and San Diego High, Baratte said.
Several hundred students marched toward Chicano Park, where many congregated on Monday to voice opposition to the sweeping immigration bill that passed the House in December and cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday. It is now before the whole Senate and is expected to be approved.
In Escondido, where several students were arrested Monday during a protest, school officials locked down campuses to keep students in school and off the streets.
Mike Caston, Escondido Union School District superintendent, said all five of the middle schools were also locked down to prevent students from leaving or to keep high school students from going onto school grounds.
Many of the students, however, were absent for school, he said. They may be participating in protests, but school officials were not sure.
Caston said school officials are prepared for an entire week of protests, but hope the students return to class before the end of the week.
Baratte agreed.
“We are concerned as a district about the distraction this has caused,” Baratte said. “Obviously, we understand students' feelings toward this and (that they) want to protest, but walking out during school is a concern, not only for the instruction but for their safety.”
