It’s the end of Kindness Month and Black History Month (check out this link for our youth poet laureate) yet those two celebrations should continue on everyday. You know what else should continue? Kids going to school everyday in a safe environment. Sometimes it is THE ONE place where children do feel safe and increasingly we keep making it scarier. Practicing for a tornado drill is very different from actually participating in a dangerous intruder drill. It’s not remotely fun to talk about a dangerous intruders with lower elementary students (or any student).
The idea that we can’t get an assault weapon ban done in this country is really, truly beyond crazy to me. It is a mental health issue as well; I do understand that yet the two go together. Ban assault weapons (not hunting rifles or hand guns, mind you) and make mental health care part of routine wellness care. Both of these items would show that we care for our citizens. We don’t want people to be target practice; we want people to feel well in their heads and hearts.
I’m unbelievably proud of the Stoneman Douglas students who’ve rallied, resisted, and shared their thoughts. I’m happy that Stoneman Douglas students were also able to head back to class today so as to get back to the routine of going to school. This personal account made me cry. It’s disgusting that they will forever have the memory of friends dying near them and the sound of rapid gun fire in their hallways. According to the NYT after Sandy Hook, 400 people have been shot in more than 200 school shootings. That’s a terrible statistics for America, for our young people, teachers, administration and parents. People should be even more fired up than they are. I do appreciate Dick’s Sporting Goods stepping up and making a change; it could be more but it’s a start.
And don’t even get me started on the ludicrous idea of giving teachers guns. I’m working with students all day long. They are in and out of the library, my office, the back work room and in this safe and loving environment there is NO room for a weapon to be sitting ready for the next shooter to come strolling in to our space. I think the same for every classroom and office in our building and in every building across the country. Ain’t no place for weapons. Now those that represent us; find another way to make schools safe again. We should be focusing on kindness and learning, thinking, and creating.
Peaceful Reader 