We don't get much of a chance to contact the real world during school hours, so when I turned on NPR after school today, I was in shock to hear the news. I cannot imagine what those 26 families in Connecticut are going through right now, regardless of the ages of their loved ones. As I listened, the traffic around me faded away and when they said it was a K-4 school, all I could see were the faces of my students and how I would feel if anything were ever to happen to them. I cannot understand it, and I don't really know exactly how to describe what I feel.
At first I was a little bit in shock. Then I was extremely saddened as I imagined this happening to children that I know or teach. When they went on to explain the history of the gunman and his brief background, I was frustrated with the laws concerning gun control in our country. When they discussed the other shootings in the last few years (the Portland Mall, the Aurora Theater, the Sikh Temple in Wisconsin, Columbine), I was angry that nothing is being done to prevent them. Now that I'm home and have had an hour or so to process this...I think I feel helpless. I feel helpless because there's nothing I can do to stop it from happening at my school, or at the schools of my future (hopefully) children.
As teachers, I'm sure one of the first thoughts that cross many of our minds when we hear about a school shooting is, "That could've been me. That could've been my students, my school." It's scary to imagine it, and we all know that the folks who have the power to make our schools and communities safer don't always make sure it happens. We don't recognize the signs of a mentally ill person until it's too late, and then we suddenly see it everywhere, even in our own students sometimes (if it can get to us enough). People are blaming it on gun control, on mental illness, on intolerance and hate as a culture, on violent video games...and I think maybe they are right. These things are certainly connected, but so what? What do we do about it?
For those of us fortunate enough to have never been through an incident like a mass murder, we'll be sad for a few days. We might even go so far as to make a facebook status or write a blog post like this one. But it's almost Christmas, and we'll soon numb that pain with presents and eggnog and knowing that our family is still here. It's an exciting time for football fans, and the New Year isn't far off either. There is plenty to look forward to and be excited about so we can push this out of our minds and live in the present. Of course, there will always be people who either don't care (because it didn't happen to them) or don't even know (because they live under a rock of ignorance).
Here's the problem with that. We can pray all we want and be sad and post statuses all day long...but that won't change anything. I hate to say it so soon, but we need to get political. Teachers need to let their students know about the importance of being an active citizen and making changes in the world. Parents need to set the example by exercising those rights and assembling, speaking out, rallying, writing letters, whatever is in our capacity to do- we need to do it. We can't afford not to, and we shouldn't be waiting until something like this strikes closer to home.
One of my favorite movies is the Great Debaters, in which Jurnee Smollet (the female student) argues in a debate that, "The time for justice is always, always, right now." I think of this line at a time like this and that it comes down to doing those 20 kids and 6 adults and countless others who have been innocent folks who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Until we find the courage and conviction (because really, we all know we have the time if we wanted it)...tell your children you love them. Hold your family members close, cherish the time you have with each other. If anything, things like this are a reminder that you never know what tomorrow will bring.
At first I was a little bit in shock. Then I was extremely saddened as I imagined this happening to children that I know or teach. When they went on to explain the history of the gunman and his brief background, I was frustrated with the laws concerning gun control in our country. When they discussed the other shootings in the last few years (the Portland Mall, the Aurora Theater, the Sikh Temple in Wisconsin, Columbine), I was angry that nothing is being done to prevent them. Now that I'm home and have had an hour or so to process this...I think I feel helpless. I feel helpless because there's nothing I can do to stop it from happening at my school, or at the schools of my future (hopefully) children.
As teachers, I'm sure one of the first thoughts that cross many of our minds when we hear about a school shooting is, "That could've been me. That could've been my students, my school." It's scary to imagine it, and we all know that the folks who have the power to make our schools and communities safer don't always make sure it happens. We don't recognize the signs of a mentally ill person until it's too late, and then we suddenly see it everywhere, even in our own students sometimes (if it can get to us enough). People are blaming it on gun control, on mental illness, on intolerance and hate as a culture, on violent video games...and I think maybe they are right. These things are certainly connected, but so what? What do we do about it?
For those of us fortunate enough to have never been through an incident like a mass murder, we'll be sad for a few days. We might even go so far as to make a facebook status or write a blog post like this one. But it's almost Christmas, and we'll soon numb that pain with presents and eggnog and knowing that our family is still here. It's an exciting time for football fans, and the New Year isn't far off either. There is plenty to look forward to and be excited about so we can push this out of our minds and live in the present. Of course, there will always be people who either don't care (because it didn't happen to them) or don't even know (because they live under a rock of ignorance).
Here's the problem with that. We can pray all we want and be sad and post statuses all day long...but that won't change anything. I hate to say it so soon, but we need to get political. Teachers need to let their students know about the importance of being an active citizen and making changes in the world. Parents need to set the example by exercising those rights and assembling, speaking out, rallying, writing letters, whatever is in our capacity to do- we need to do it. We can't afford not to, and we shouldn't be waiting until something like this strikes closer to home.
One of my favorite movies is the Great Debaters, in which Jurnee Smollet (the female student) argues in a debate that, "The time for justice is always, always, right now." I think of this line at a time like this and that it comes down to doing those 20 kids and 6 adults and countless others who have been innocent folks who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Until we find the courage and conviction (because really, we all know we have the time if we wanted it)...tell your children you love them. Hold your family members close, cherish the time you have with each other. If anything, things like this are a reminder that you never know what tomorrow will bring.
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