School Shootings: As a Teacher, I Asked My Students 4 Important Questions (Their Answers May Surprise You) by Tamara Ritchie


School Shootings: As a Teacher, I Asked My Students 4 Important Questions (Their Answers May Surprise You)

I had my students do a quick write about school shootings, and I asked them four questions: 

  • Why do you think school shootings are increasing?
  • Do you feel less safe at school?
  • What do you think contributes to the problem?
  • What possible solutions would you suggest?

Not much Chemistry and Food Science happened today, but the resulting conversations were both cathartic and illuminating. These kids had vastly different opinions. Some wanted all guns outlawed and some wanted teachers armed. Some felt that social media and bullying were to blame, and some felt that the participation trophy entitlement issues were the problem. Most agreed that the media needed to stop glamorizing the shooter and some even suggested never showing his picture or naming him to limit other shootings from people with the desire to be Twitter famous.

Many mentioned the lack of resilience in their generation combined with the constant pressure to perform. What I found surprising is that most of my kids still felt very safe. They recognized intuitively that although one school had a mass shooting, thousands of schools across the country didn't.

We went over lockdown procedures, alternate scenarios and what to do. We talked about the three active shooter scenarios: Run, Hide, Fight. As a teacher who loves my students, it hurts my heart to have to talk to them about literally fighting for their lives if it came to it. But as a mom, I want all my babies to be prepared should the unthinkable actually happen.

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Elisa Schmitz
What an important thing you did for your students, Tamara Ritchie ! Kids need to talk about traumatic events. You did so much more than teach today. You helped them process the events, and prepare them, too. Thank you. Teachers are the real MVPs! Welcome to our tribe. I look forward to more great insights from you!
Candy Stephens
So frustrating that this type of conversation is even necessary, but grateful for compassionate teachers who understand that their impact is more than just an hour of science each day in our kid's lives.
Katie Sloan
What a difficult topic! You handled it so well as did your kids.
Mike Prochaska
What Grade you teach?
Mike Prochaska
Great tip! Right now talking to kids important.
Mike Prochaska
Test resist to 50409 makes it so easy to write your congress person
Mike Prochaska
Test resist to 50409 makes it so easy to write your congress person #Resistance #StopNRA
Murray Febus
I am surprised by answers that your students have given! I think that all students have to give some answer for a question "where you can buy already written papers?" - "I am using the thesis writing service -> that proposes for me and my friends a help in writing different types of papers "

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