As a school principal, I have seen my fair share of student showcases. Last week, when our students performed the song “When I Grow Up” from the musical “Matilda”, it was different.
In front of a sold-out crowd of family, staff and friends, they performed with humility, confidence and enthusiasm. After more than five months of rehearsals and an unwavering commitment that could not stop the covids or quarantines, their young faces really lit up the stage. I was overwhelmed by the sight of my students, from all walks of life, singing and serving with real laughter and joy. I have seen such beauty. Such innocence. So much hope.
I feel an overwhelming grief for American children who will not grow up because of the horrific gun violence. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, firearms-related injuries are now the leading cause of death in children and adolescents.
When I saw my students’ stunning performances, I had an internal account, imagining the pain of families in my own school community who suffered tragic losses and those who lost children in Uvalade, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 students and two others. Teacher
Related: Mass shooting in Texas raises the same old question about how to protect American children
Those children, too, deserve to be performed, laughed and celebrated by their loved ones for their achievements. They deserved to grow up.
They deserve to be seen by their parents and teachers performing in front of an audience, competing in sports, and blooming in the field they choose. But this right has been taken away from them. We need to take action now to stop gun violence.
Deaths in school shootings are just brutal. I know that we as a country are capable and capable enough to come up with understandable security measures. My hope is that the recent bipartisan gun reforms will pass and prove effective and that this cycle of gun violence will come to an end. We can no longer stand idle. We must stop school shootings and all forms of violence before we can conceive of these heinous ideas.
The obvious solution is to reduce gun access and increase mental health services. But as our American obsession with violence is so pervasive and so deeply ingrained in our minds, we need to rearrange our collective identity. Although we cannot rewrite the past, we must now change this narrative of violence – through logical and humanitarian action.
When I saw my students’ stunning performances, I had an internal account, imagining the pain of families in my own school community who suffered tragic losses and those who lost children in Uvalade, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 students and two others. Teacher
It is imperative that we increase our investment in education so that our students not only have a strong foundation in reading and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and other subjects, but are also equipped with healthy living skills: conflict resolution, confidence. , Mutual respect across all lines of difference and self-management. We must develop critical thinkers and problem solvers.
I believe we also have a deep responsibility to create content that builds us up rather than promoting our decline. Yet many of our films and TV, social media, gaming and music today are full of violence and substance abuse. All of this makes us sensitive to real life and takes our humanity away.
Instead, let’s use our creativity and talent for the common good and the collective good.
We must ensure that we provide integrated, wrapping support for those in need. I believe that we should build relationships with community organizations, law enforcement, health and social services to actively intervene and prevent crime.
Politics. Monetization. The issues that contribute to the insanity of violence today are undoubtedly complex. Nevertheless, we must find it and put forth effort to do so. Why? Because every child deserves to grow up “tall enough to reach the branch … smart enough to answer all the questions you need to know” and “eat sweets … go to bed late … just lie down all day” Sun, “my The song that the students performed on “Matilda” is gone.
Related: The mother of Sandy Hooke who lost her son says the answer to this senseless violence is in our classroom
Every child deserves to do what their small and big heart desires can do. They have many aspirations. They want to be chefs, doctors, professional athletes, entrepreneurs, veterinarians. They want to travel the world. There are many opportunities ahead of them. The right to bear arms does not negate their right to grow and survive.
Our job as adults is to do what we can to protect them. When kids want to be like us, we take a page from the “Matilda” script and shout at the students like a cast: “We’re rebelling!” Take a stand for our community. Action and demand for social justice. Spread love instead of hate.
We must all contribute to ending violence in one way or another. It is a matter of life and death.
Please: Let the kids grow up.
Jasmine Brann is the headmistress and headmistress Tyler Primary In Washington, D.C., she is working with her school community leaders to help intervene and prevent violence.
Produced by this piece about gun violence Hatchinger report, A non-profit, independent news organization focusing on inequality and innovation in education. For registration Hatchinger’s newsletter.
