This is not a NASA Website. You might learn something. It's YOUR space agency. Get involved. Take it back. Make it work - for YOU.
Astronauts

Future Astronaut Takes A Lone Stand

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
April 21, 2018
Filed under

Why a 7 year old walked out of school alone, CNN
“Seven-year-old Havana Chapman-Edwards was the only student at an Alexandria, Virginia, elementary school to participate when students across the nation walked out of school in support of school shooting victims, according to her mother.”
Keith’s note: Watch the video. Look at what Havana Chapman-Edwards is wearing and what she wants to be when she grows up.

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.

10 responses to “Future Astronaut Takes A Lone Stand”

  1. Catrina Campbell says:
    0
    0

    What an absolute sweetheart.

  2. Matthew Black says:
    0
    0

    I’d be proud to have a daughter like her.

  3. fcrary says:
    0
    0

    Without commenting on gun control politics, I think scientists and explorers should be an independent lot. Having the nerve to do something that your peers don’t agree with (or won’t publicly support) is important. If a seven year old girl has that in her, and is interested in science or exploration, I think she has great potential.

    • ThomasLMatula says:
      0
      0

      Actually she was alone was because the school didn’t have the resources to support the protest and no other parents showed up to check their kids out.

      http://abcnews.go.com/US/gr

      “According to Havana’s mom, Bethany Edwards, the school said in March that they did not have enough supervision on hand to facilitate a walkout during the March for Our Lives protest.”

      So her mother came to school to check her out.

      “This time, Edwards decided to take matters into her own hands and sign Havana out.”

      Since schools just don’t let kids this age go out by themselves, its not surprising the others stayed behind. The school would have gotten into legal trouble if it let them out without school officials to watch them.

      Her mother also commented on why she dressed her in that outfit.

      “And that space suit Havana was wearing in the photo — Mom said that was an intentional choice.

      “She [wanted] to show the people who make laws that they are not just little kids, but kids with big dreams.””

      BTW the ABC article also includes a picture of her and her sister from the protest on March 24 that shows her holding a picture of Astronaut Dr. Mae Jamison as her hero.

      • fcrary says:
        0
        0

        Fine. I’ll amend my statement to “having the nerve to do something that authorities do not authorize”, and possibly tack on “for bureaucratic reasons.” That’s also a long-standing tradition for scientists and explorers and a fine thing to learn at an early age.

        I was tempted say something about laws and not letting a seven-year old walk out a door and sit under a tree without supervision. But somehow, I lack the urge to open that discussion. I’ll just note that playground toys for children, like swings, are much more fun in countries with fewer lawyers.

        • ThomasLMatula says:
          0
          0

          Yes, they do take the fun out of many activities, kinda like Jack Williamson’s robots (“With Folded Hands”). 🙂

          If the NASA PAO was on the ball they would invite her to meet her hero. Yes, I know Dr. Jamison is retired, but they could be the go-between.

  4. Michael Spencer says:
    0
    0

    Since when is a ‘protest’ something that requires ‘support’?

    As a veteran of many protests – and of a very fiery time in American public life – what’s wrong with an *actual* protest? Just walk out! Or better yet, take over the buildings.

    A protest that requires permission is just another assembly.

    [ED: Yes, guys, I get she’s seven].

    • PV NASA Fan says:
      0
      0

      Well, she’s seven, so taking over the school building is a bit much. Very gutsy young lady and her mom should be proud.

    • ThomasLMatula says:
      0
      0

      She is limited to what her mother allows, after all she is only 7. That is why he mother had to check her out of class and be with her during her lone protest.