A Letter to Fellow Teachers (After the Latest School Shooting)

Dear Fellow Teacher,
There is not much I know right now...

I know this news makes you sick. I know this news makes you angry. I know this news makes you scared.

I know you are looking around your classroom today praying that this never happens in your school and thinking about how you’d keep your students safe. I know that as a parent, you are also praying that your child’s teacher is doing the same.

I know you hear every ranting on social media from well meaning passive activists about how to prevent the next tragedy in our schools. They are angry and scared too.

We all know that the issue is not as black and white as metal detectors, gun control, armed guards, etc. This is an embedded cultural issue. A culture of violence, indifference, lack of consequences, instability and virtual realities.

Unfortunately, I also know that this will be debated until nothing substantial is done, people will forget and it will happen again.

I know that children look to adults in their lives for safety and security. It is difficult to reassure them if we are struggling with our own strong emotions.

I know it is sometimes hard to know what to do when we feel powerless over something that is so very important.

But I do know that we need to take care of each other. Help to develop a climate, in our classrooms, schools and community, of caring and respect. Make sure that students come to you if they are concerned about the actions, safety or state of being of another student. This is our responsibility.

Fred Rogers knew what to do. “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster’, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers- so many caring people in this world.” Be one of those helpers, those caring people in this world.
Take care of each other. Help support and build each other up. Know that you are doing one of the most important and most difficult jobs in our country and you are doing a dang good job!