OAKLAND COUNTY (WWJ) -- More than 10,000 people have signed a petition asking that all Oakland County schools return to virtual learning amid ongoing threats following the tragic Oxford High School shooting.
A group of Oakland County high school students created the online petition, stating that the widespread threats have "induced fear and taken an emotional toll on all students, making in-person learning essentially useless."
In order to "serve the mental, physical and emotional health of all students," the petition is demanding that all Oakland County Schools close and transition to virtual schooling until winter break or until all copycat threats are thoroughly investigated; that all school district administrators from all Oakland County districts release "detailed and concrete" plans for keeping students safe in school buildings prior to the return to in-person learning; that threats to schools not be taken lightly and that school officials "prioritize the safety of students."
One person commented on the petition, "I'm scared for my life."
The petition follows the Nov. 30 mass shooting at Oxford High School. Ethan Crumbley, 15, is charged with shooting four students and wounding seven others, including a teacher.
A flood of copycat threats came afterwards, prompting arrests and charges for some teenage students.
Because of these circumstances, some districts in the area and outside Oakland County have already made the jumps to virtual learning.
"We need a break. A big one," commented another person. "This is just all too much for staff and students, alike. Students are in fear and so is our staff."
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools shifted their high school to online learning during the week of Dec. 13 through the district's winter break -- ending on Jan. 3 -- after 6,000 students were locked down following a report of a gun while police conducted a building-wide search.
The petition can be viewed here.
