With a Conscience - "Give a boy a gun"

"I believe we are still so innocent. The species are still so innocent that a person who is apt to be murdered believes that the murderer, just before he puts the final wrench on his throat, will have enough compassion to give him one sweet cup of water." -  Maya Angelou

A few years ago, when I was in my masters program, one of my professors had us read Todd Strasser's Give A Boy A Gun.  It chronicled through interviews (in a fictional premise) a "Columbine" type incident.  It was one of the most powerful pieces of young adult literature I have ever read and still stays with me today...particularly today with the horrific news coming from Newtown, Connecticut.  

Sandy Hook Elementary School now aligns itself with a history of tragic, unforeseen rampages that continue to baffle, mesmerize and sadden us.  The incident also disgraces the very ideals we have about public education and our "No child left behind" mentality.  Children were left behind today.  We failed miserably in protecting them and those who committed themselves to educate and protect them.

Gun control measures, the second amendment are the antithesis of the current news.  Let's face it; We have always been fascinated with guns.  We cannot deny this but how can we embrace the notion that all of us are entitled to own a weapon if we choose and justify that very concept when it kills the innocent.  Guns have killed thousands of innocent people.  That should be the wake up call.  

Adam Lanza, today's shooter of the innocent, enters the current historic timeline of mass rampage murders innocent Americans experienced, suffered and dealt with in the most public of circumstances.  The media makes it so and frankly, I don't think the media has done these events any favors.  The innocent children and adults of these events needed the media to protect them and televising the events on continual, hourly basis is inappropriate and setting our society up for more desensitization to violence and encouraging a lack of acknowledgement that life is indeed precious. 

It is also worthy to note that these rampage murderers were young, with a history of troubles, and entitlement.  Their families were caught off guard but those who were close to them knew full well that something was terribly wrong and that they were destined to  get the so needed attention, some how, some way.  They always know but it's difficult to admit that something has gone terribly wrong and that these young people were capable of planning and executing horrendous acts of violence.

Lastly, our public schools are burdened with being parent, psychologist, nutritionist and then teacher to our young but we are still in a vulnerable state and protection is a vital, necessary component now,  now more than ever.  Frankly, protection of administration, teachers and most importantly, our children needs to be addressed.  Forget standardized testing for a brief second and take the millions and millions of dollars spent on standardized testing and spend it on the safety and protection of our schools with security cameras, security officers, not seniors, or temporary hall monitors but how about hiring those military officers who have served our country and now need jobs.  How about instead of testing mandates, we mandate safety first?

Across the country, teachers, I  will bet, like myself, are asking themselves, "Am I helpless?"  "Am I a target for the dysfunction that is increasing in our young every year?"  "Do I want to be a target along with my students who have no idea about the fragility of human life?"  "How can I teach, when my students feel vulnerable?"

I have a heavy, heavy heart about what all of this really means for education.  I have a heavy, heavy heart for what this means for young people and my dedicated colleagues who have no answers.  I have no answers. I serve the public.  I work for the public good.  When do we, as the public wake up and collectively protect our young and make them see that their future can not be built on the success of video games and Facebook but on respect of themselves and human life.  

As a teacher, as an unknown fellow colleague, I extend my condolences, my sadness to Sandy Hook Elementary.  May this never, ever happen again...anywhere.