This month, we have collectively witnessed two more hateful, tragic, and completely avoidable acts of terror, with the targeted killing of ten innocent Black people in Buffalo, New York, and today, with the killing of at least 19 innocent elementary school children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Our hearts break for and with the communities of Buffalo and Uvalde, and with all families and communities that have experienced terror, loss, and trauma due to gun violence. Mass shootings, including school shootings, are a national crisis: active shootings spiked 52 percent in 2021. As a nation, we must urgently, deeply, and continuously address the hatred that leads to these acts as well as address the legal systems that enable access to weapons that are fueling terrorism in our country. Nobody deserves to be unsafe or targeted because they are Black. Full stop. Every child deserves to be safe at school. Full stop. Change is necessary at every level, including the policy level. In our capacity as a support organization, we will be working with our member schools to ensure that educators, parents, and students have the resources they need to process the relentless tragedy in our news cycles. As an advocacy organization, we will continue to look beyond our single issue of charter public schools and work across coalitions and movements to end senseless gun violence.
Resources:
National Association of School Psychologists – Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers and Helping Children Cope With Terrorism – Tips for Families and Educators
San Diego County Office of Education – Resources For Educators, Families To Discuss School Shootings
Colorín Colorado: a bilingual site for educators and families of English language learners – 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence
Child Mind Institute – Talking to Kids About Racism and Violence and Helping Children Cope With Frightening News