Yesterday, while most of us were in the classroom, and some of us just getting out of school, New York City faced a brutal terrorist attack. Innocent lives were lost. People who were on a reunion trip. People who were using the bike path for the sake of good health. People out and about enjoying family and friends. Suddenly, they were physically cut down by a speeding truck. For some people, Halloween will never be the same as it will mark the saddest day of their lives. It is so sad and heartbreaking to consider that a human being could devalue life to such an extent that he could allow a vile hatred to drive him to kill people enjoying an autumn day. Our prayers are with the families of the deceased, and with the injured and their families. We pray for God to comfort them, strengthen them and heal them.
Yesterday, while some of us were wrapping up our day in the classroom, while others were teaching in the classroom, a teacher faced a gun wielding parent in her classroom while the students were at lunch. She was held hostage for several hours. Police intervened and rescued her. It is difficult to imagine that the parent of a student could do something so wretched and wrong toward a teacher. (The details can be found here. ) This story was largely lost in the news in my area because of the overriding concern for the situation in New York. What a wonderful world?
Today and tomorrow and next week, we will go into our classrooms and face students who must be prepared to meet the challenges this world will bring. We must set aside for a moment the pain, the anguish and the sorrow we as a country feels and we must prepare students to love each other and to accept each other and to help one another. We must teach them to think critically, to think logically, to think beyond what is stated and find the truth.
Ironically, at my school we were scheduled to be going over the procedures for tornado drills and active shooter drills. Knowing they had all seen the news, I felt it might not be the right time to go over these drills, but I knew it had to be done. I decided to look at each one in the eyes as I spoke. I told them I loved them as they were my own children, though I don't do their laundry and they don't eat at my house. I told them that I would die before I let anyone come near them or any harm come to them, and since I didn't plan on dying until I was at least 120 years old, that we would all work together and get out of any situation together by God's grace. I stressed that though I knew they might be nervous, we would stay quiet, follow the procedures and know that we would be fine as a team. I told them it was natural to feel nervous or frightened or apprehensive during the drills because we all hear of so many terrible things in the news. I also told them that the likelihood of someone approaching our school or having a tornado was limited. During my tenure as a teacher, I have drilled many times, but have never had the distress of using the skills practiced. I told them it would likely be the same for them. I told them the skills of thinking and of problem solving combined with the discipline of the drills would help them some day during times of crisis. I told them to move past any fear and to think and pray.
So, what a wonderful world? Well, it is a wonderful world in many respects. I guess that's why we keep teaching in today's environment--to help the world be a more wonderful place, and to highlight for students the many wonderful things that are today and to set goals for things that can be tomorrow.
In the meantime, I continue to pray for the families affected by both tragedies. May God comfort them in their distress.
First published November 2, 2017
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