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Sandy Hook shocked us all
I want to use the word nightmare to describe the horror that was inflicted on Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. However, my worst nightmares couldn’t possibly compare to the panic, pain and grief endured by teachers, students and parents of Newtown, Connecticut.
The shockwaves from this tragedy leave all school communities numb. When we reflect on such events, we recognize that they’re isolated, rare and senseless acts of violence, but that awareness does not diminish our fears that something similar could happen in our schools.
I didn’t become a teacher because of pay, pension and benefits, or time off in the summer. I became a teacher because I cared about children and wanted to help them grow into the best adults possible. I think that is true of the vast majority of teachers. Teachers see in children their vast potential.
That’s what makes December 14 so tragic. Within 15 minutes, a violent act robbed 20 young boys and girls of their futures. It robbed mothers and fathers of their children, robbed children of their parents and robbed everyone of a certain level of hope for the future.
Teachers want to inspire students; they want to make a positive difference in students’ lives and help them learn and achieve their best. There are important pedagogical outcomes of schooling, but at the same time, teachers are also aware of the fundamental trust that parents and society place in them. Parents and society want to know that we’ll keep their children safe while they are in our care. We take that responsibility seriously and personally.
Taking that responsibility personally explains why teachers at Sandy Hook took the irrationally selfless actions that they did. It explains why principal Dawn Hochsprung and school psychologist Mary Sherlach ran toward the sound of gunfire. It explains why teacher Victoria Soto put herself between the shooter and her students, telling the gunman that the children weren’t in the room. Aides Anne Marie Murphy and Rachel D’Avino died shielding children from gunfire. We won’t know the heroics of substitute teacher Lauren Rousseau—she was in the classroom nearest the school’s front doors (the only student from that classroom to survive played dead). These outstanding women are heroes.
As the initial shock wears off we may feel removed because we’re thousands of kilometres away and in a different country with a different culture. But we are close to the situation because we are teachers who spend our days in schools with kids. We’ll never be able to make sense of this tragedy (or of any school shooting). The best we can do is exchange ideas on how to prevent similar incidents.
And at the same time, we need to pay attention to how this trauma is affecting us. Experiencing strong reactions to such an event is appropriate, but we must care for our own mental health. If you feel overwhelmed, know that help is available from friends, family, colleagues and professionals. Let’s remember to take care of ourselves and each other.
In closing, I want to end with a Fred Rogers quote that has been circulating the Internet following this tragedy:
When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.
I welcome your comments—contact me at jonathan.teghtmeyer@ata.ab.ca.
