Blog Post #2: School Violence
Enrique Lavin | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. (2018, February 16). More than 17 cartoons about the shootings that'll make you cry, cringe, call a congressman. nj. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.nj.com/opinion/2018/02/more_than_17_cartoons_about_the_shootings_thatll_m.html
Something that truly shocked me was the statistic that stated, "more than 311,000 children at 331 schools experienced gun violence since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999" (St. George, 2022). I acknowledge the fact that there have been an absurd amount of school shootings since Columbine, but this feels like such a large number. Over 311,000 students is INSANE. To have lost that many lives over something that so many people disagree about is truly mind-blowing to me.
Something that unfortunately did not surprise me when watching the film was how stubborn the American people seem when discussing the effects of keeping guns available for the masses (Moore, 2002). Too many people believe that allowing most societal members to own guns will accelerate our journey to safety. The attitude that they hold is what makes this especially disheartening. Our country is so divided on the topic of gun regulation, but as the years of disagreement continue, we continue to jeopardize the safety of our students.
School violence is obviously an issue for all students, but many minority students feel more targeted by these violent attacks. 64% of non-white teens feel "at least somewhat worried" about school shootings, while 51% of white teens feel this way (Graf, 2018). As teachers, we must concern ourselves with the thoughts and worries of all of our students. Creating an anti-racist environment may promote the mental health of minority students and the change in mindset may reach someone considering horrendous ideas.
When it comes down to it, the best thing we can do for our students is to protect their social and emotional wellness. In fact, many students feel this way. In a survey conducted at Alfred State, the highest percentage of teens answered that to combat school violence, teachers need to care more deeply for their students (Can we prevent...). In the end, being a more open-minded, loving teacher will truly save lives.
References
Can we prevent school shootings?: Alfred University. www.alfred.edu. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.alfred.edu/about/news/studies/lethal-school-violence/can-we-prevent.cfm
Graf, N. (2018, April). A majority of U.S. teens fear a shooting could happen at their school, and most parents share their concern. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/18/a-majority-of-u-s-teens-fear-a-shooting-could-happen-at-their-school-and-most-parents-share-their-concern/
Moore, M. (Producer & Director) (2002). Bowling for Columbine [Film]. United States: Dog Eat Dog Productions/ YouTube https://watchdocumentaries.com/bowling-for-columbine/
St. George, D. (2022, June 28). School Shootings Rose to Highest Number in 20 Years, federal data says. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/06/28/school-shootings-crime-report/
Hi Colleen, I really liked your blog post and how you connected antiracism to this topic. Students may act in a hateful way due to the hate that came from the school. So many shootings are from students who have been disrespected by teachers and other students. As future teachers, we have to be able to prevent students from feeling this way and make our classroom a safe and welcoming environment. The amount of school shootings is very sad and needs to be controlled, and it is so sad hearing there was another school shooting at Michigan State. It is so traumatizing for students to have to go through the fear of wanting to learn, especially with the 17 lives lost at Columbian High. I'm so glad your school made action and had an assembly about school violence and decided to make a machine to scan IDs to make sure every person was a student. With the number of school shootings, every school needs to do something about it to make it a safer environment.
ReplyDeleteHi Colleen,
ReplyDeleteWhile reading your blog I found it to be very informative and interesting. By starting off with a personal feeling on school violence was beneficial to the rest of the blog. I feel that explaining how you feel about a certain topic first, sets the pace for the entire post. When you were talking about the statistics of school violence and who feels the most threatened, I also found that it is mostly minority students. I also included this statistic in my blog because I find it to be very important for people to be aware about. As future educators, protecting and caring for your students should be your number one priority. Students should feel a sense of comfort around their teachers and able to feel safe as well. School violence needs to end and the teachers need to be more aware so that all students are safe in school. Lastly, when learning about the Columbine High School shooting, it is crazy to think how easy it was to get a gun. Guns/weapons need to be controlled in order to stop the spread of school violence.
Hi Colleen,
ReplyDeleteI wanted to start by bringing attention to the image you selected. This absolutely spoke volumes about the issue of gun violence. The man's reaction to the situation by blaming the tv can be tied to the larger perspective. This is because we aren't focusing on what needs attention to solve the extreme and heartbreaking levels of violence that not only our schools witness but our world as a whole. Efforts must be applied to areas where we can limit mass shootings, not to aspects that ignore the problem. Within your response, the evidence you tie in does a great job of bringing needed awareness to the issue. The fact that over 311,000 students have experienced a form of gun violence since 1999 is nothing short of devastating. Schools are meant to be a place for students to challenge themselves and improve as learners and people. Not as a location of danger and fear. The last point I wanted to bring attention to was what you stated regarding teacher responsibility. I truly is on the shoulders of the teacher to consider and act based upon the concerns and worries of the students. This is crucial for students as it allows them to feel welcomed and secure. Which, especially with the issue of gun violence, is essential for students to feel in order to thrive.