My theory on why the MSDHS students have been so vocal:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Sandy Hook was a little over five years ago.

The students at Stoneman Douglas were only a couple of years older than the student victims at Sandy Hook. They were old enough to have a conscious memory of that horrible day and probably associate in some way with the students killed there. They probably haven't forgotten those feelings of vulnerability.

It's a generational thing, and they are the generation of school massacres.

It's as though the tragedy followed them.

Different schools, different states, different shooters, but the same exact problem.

[OhNo-Really]

1. Good insights - Demographics may be insightful as well

DEMOGRAPHICS from Wikipedia


....."Academics

Newsweek magazine's 2009 national ranking of high schools rated Douglas as No. 208 in the U.S., and No. 38 in Florida, which was the highest ranking of any school in Broward County.[5]

Stoneman Douglas had a Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) school grade of "A" for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Demographics

As of 2015–2016, the total student enrollment was 3,158. The ethnic makeup of the school was 59% White, 12% Black, 20% Hispanic, 7% Asian and 2% multiracial. 23% of the students were eligible for free or reduced lunch....."

My high school had 400 students. Everyone knew each other.

Thousands of students in one school. No way the needs of all students can be met, imho.

[Canoe52]

12. Lots more opportunities in a big school, imho

I went to a school of 4,000, my kids school 350. So many more and varied activities in a big school to fit kids with varied interests. And academically for example, instead of one chemistry class, there are several to fit different levels.

Participation in the school choir was very high in my kids high school however. Curious, I asked why and my kids told me for that class period the only choice was go to choir or sit through a boring study hall, so most kids would go to choir because it was more fun.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

18. I have read that once a high school gets above about a thousand students,

the only thing that gets better is athletics. Academic performance either stagnates or goes down.

Yes, larger schools can offer more choices about various things, but at some point there's a trade-off.

[Canoe52]

22. Thats an interesting point,

My experience in school was in an area with a large proportion of college educated parents, therefore an emphasis on academics in the school.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

23. It does make a difference who the parents are,

how well educated and how invested they are in their children getting a good education.

Unfortunately, in far too many schools even in those districts, athletics can take precedence over academics far too often.

I know of at least one city in Kansas that for years resisted a dire need for a second high school so they could remain large enough to dominate high school football in that state. I rather suspect that academics suffered in that high school.

[DeminPennswoods]

29. My class had nearly 500 kids in it

and the 10-12 high school had nearly 1600. We had every kind of club you could imagine and both non-college (business) and college prep tracks. The district offered summer school for students who wanted to take regular track classes so they could take more advanced classed during the regular school year. I got a great education there. Now my alma mater, due to the collapse of area manufacturing, population loss and people segregating themselves, has around 100 kids in each class. While it's still competitive in athletics, there are far fewer sports, and while it offers AP classes, there's a minimum 5 student requirement. There are still high achiever students graduating, but it's a different day.

[targetpractice]

2. Maybe, too, they have good history, civics, current events classes...

... All the students I've seen on TV seem woke to politics.

[fierywoman]

3. Perhaps they understand who the woman the school was named after

was all about?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. Good point, probably lost on most non Floridians.

And probably some Floridians as well.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas was a vocal advocate for preservation of the Everglades, an invaluable ecosystem for the state.

[fierywoman]

5. From what I understand, she was also a Suffragette (?sp) and

into civil rights.

[malaise]

8. Excellent point

[fierywoman]

15. I can't help but think that MSD's soul -- wherever it is residing --

is smiling upon them.

[ffr]

6. We need to get the backs of these young adults. Conservatives will rally to shame them for speaking

out, probably even threaten them and their families.

We need to be there for them with more than thoughts and prayers. They'll need our support, our backing, our participation, and to share the weight of their burden if we're going to make change.

[flibbitygiblets]

9. Yes, and their passion can ignite a movement

They can be the generation that makes voting cool. All they need is our support and encouragement.

[dameatball]

21. I agree completely.

[madamesilverspurs]

7. It looks like they've had some damned fine teachers.

[DeminPennswoods]

10. This school is in a well-to-do area

The parents are likely high achieving and expect the same from their kids. This isn't meant as a knock or criticism of other schools in less affluent areas, just a recognition of the realities in our public school system today.

[Gore1FL]

11. I think we are at a higher boiling point, too.

Trump's antics for the past year in office, and years before that has raised the tension and lowered the tolerance of many. I think the rising tide of bile has simply made it easier to call bullshit.

[DeminPennswoods]

30. Good point

I was a soph in HS when the Kent State shootings happened. This was all wrapped around Woodstock, the Summer of Love, the VN war protests, race riots, etc. We talked current events just about every day in class. It activated a lot of kids' interest in politics. I'm sure it's similar for the kids in school now.

[Tatiana]

13. They have nothing to lose. They've already stared death in the face.

They see a purpose -- something bigger than themselves. These kids are literally trying to prevent what happened to them from happening to others in this nation.

They are courageous, brave, talented leaders and I hope our country hears their message.

[Generic Brad]

14. Very observant

That explains why they are not taking this lying down. Times have changed. This is the Terry Schiavo moment of overreach by this current Congress.

[rufus dog]

16. Area went for HRC two for one

So not tRump Country. And they are pissed like the majority of Americans with half a brain.

Welcome to next phase in tRump's America. The majority of people are pissed off and the Deplorables will live in denial.

[rainin]

17. They are the OBAMA generation.

My kids are only a few years older than these kids. Their formative years were during Obama's presidency. These kids get it just like mine do. My kids went to a school that is a mirror of MSDHS and graduates very competitive kids who go on to competitive colleges and universities.

I believe that Obama's legacy lives on in these kids. Our family is grateful they grew up when they did.

[LiberalArkie]

19. I was born in 48 and in high school knew nothing about Viet Nam. No one did.

But when we got of high school and started working, we would find friends who were drafted and ended up getting killed and then we woke up. Young people have that mentality of it cannot happen to me. Watch me jump off this ridge into the lake. Never think that there are rocks under the water. etc.

It may have hit critical mass. A lot of the kids at that school will be 18, they will have friends who are 18. Hopefully someone their age will run a GOTV.

[Cha]

24. Excellent point, Tommy

[Nitram]

25. Your theory is borne out by statements from MSDHS students.

[Phoenix61]

26. Orlando is only 3 hours away

The Pulse night club shooting happened less than 2 years ago.

[greymattermom]

27. I was in grad school during Vietnam

and I protested, marched to Washington, did what I could. It was personal to me as I saw it as the government wanting to kill my boyfriend, even though he was Canadian, too skinny, and had vision too poor for them. This is like that. Personal.

[randr]

28. They are being vocal because the cameras are letting them tell their story

After past such incidents the media turned their attention to the talking heads that always pop up like pimples on a bare ass. The same rhetoric has been heard over and over the the point the it is now scripted.
The war against the media that Trump has initiated has caused the media to turn their cameras in a different direction.