On March 31, the Lexington High School administration prohibited the use of Gimkit, a digital learning platform, on school Chromebooks. The action sparked debates about both free speech and the fundamental right for students to use parkour competitions to learn their Spanish vocab words. 

The LHS administration took a defensive stance on the decision, stating in a press release that Gimkit amplifies LHS’s competitive learning environment while having too many non-academic features. 

“From what was originally a simple way to memorize the Krebs cycle, Gimkit games quickly escalated into a competitive frenzy over who could make it onto the podium,” Ronald Truck, a chemistry teacher, said. “I also didn’t see how a fishing tournament or snowball fight reinforced our learning goals.”

Following the ban, some students felt that they were missing a crucial part of their school experience. Soon, reality hit them like a Trust No One (the Among Us-style Gimkit minigame) lore drop and they fled for their team bases.

Further, students argued that if they could no longer play Gimkit in classes, they might as well “play” the system that made the rules against it. Students believe that the competitive spirit, a necessary life skill, is developed through the game.  

“Gimkit was made by a high schooler for high schoolers. So why can’t we keep using it to stay engaged in school? This is enraging,” Timothy Chalwemeet, a senior at LHS, said. 

In order to cope with the loss of their beloved Gimkit, some students have resorted to creative ways of reimagining the game.

“I would skip class to go fishing at the pond behind the science building, so that perhaps someday I could find my golden opportunity in Fishtopia,” an anonymous student, said. “For some reason, I never caught any fish.”

When LHS staff increased their Gimkit security, some students decided they needed to do something big. A group of freshmen took things into their own hands, carrying a wide array of tangible objects ranging from drumsticks to trumpets. They rallied outside the school in  hopes of bringing the beloved platform back into their classrooms.

Students describe the days following the first protest as “miserable”. Access to Gimkit was blocked on Chromebooks.

“I just felt so betrayed. I could trust no one,” Junior Smitt, a freshman, said. “Alas, will we ever have Gimkit back?”