MOULTRIE, Ga. — A national group has called for students to walk out of school Wednesday to protest school violence in the wake of the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Colquitt County school officials are discouraging any such activity here, but they plan a moment of silence followed by a discussion of school safety issues.

High school teachers received an email from Superintendent Doug Howell Tuesday, and the same message was posted to the school system’s website.

In it, Howell says public schools cannot legally    participate in a protest of any kind, and he says the walk-out would put students in an unsafe position.

“We are mindful of the rights of our students to express themselves about current issues,” Howell wrote. “Colquitt County High School will show compassion and solidarity for the victims and their families of school violence by observing a 17-second moment of silence in our classrooms on March 14th. The moment of silence will be followed by a short discussion in our classrooms concerning school safety issues.”

High school students, especially seniors, have an added reason to not walk out. Midterm exams are being held Tuesday and Wednesday. For seniors, they’re the last grades to count toward class rankings, which would determine honor graduate status and may figure into scholarship opportunities.