SOL18 Danger
We are in danger.
We are in danger of always living in fear.
We are in danger of always living with stress.
We are in danger.
Today, I read Slice of Life posts to comment on and to get ideas.
I found this post:
Because I Wanted to Be a Teacher by Cristi Julsrud
But I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to be on the front lines in the battle against ignorance. I wanted to help shape tomorrow’s good guys; to help students to make good decisions that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. I wanted to raise up tomorrow’s doctors, and to help create a new generation that will cry a little for the loss of an innocent life.
Somewhere, that got lost.
Somehow, our schools have become the front line of a war.
Read the post for an idea of how teachers feel today. They are powerful words I can identify with completely. If I were still teaching, and gun-carrying teachers came to my school, I’d have to change careers.
That’s all there is to it.
Where there are guns, there’s violence and stress.
I know people hunt. But we don’t hunt in schools.
I’m sorry this conversation has come to schools.
It focuses on fear and negative.
That is a dangerous climate to impose on schools.
It sets up a reminder in our minds of constant fear and negativity– instead of dealing with the children and adults who are hurting inside. A focus on the human beings who are hurting would be Christian, would be helpful, would be positive and begin to erase the stigma of mental illness. It would be positive and hopeful.
Positive and hopeful — an emphasis on helping people through difficult times, emotional stress, and stressful imbalances in their being.
We would notice and offer help — have systems and people in place to deal with the issues causing the pain. Compassion. Empathy. That would be helpful.
That would be positive and hopeful.
That’s the kind of world I want, not one where guns are considered an answer.
No– I choose to notice and help– to know that caring, noticing, relating and effective social services will enhance school climate; it will promote healthy attitudes and feelings that we all matter and we’ll help everyone be safe.
Hope. We all need hope.
Images by Sheri [deer / hope]
This post is written for11th Annual Slice of Life Story challenge hosted by Two Writing Teachers . During whole month of March, we will share a slice of our lives. Please join too.
Categories
America, Great America, Interesting, Slice of Life, sol, teaching
Sheri Edwards View All
Geeky Gramma ~~
Retired Middle School Language Arts/Media Teacher ~~
Writer and Thinker~~
Art from the Heart
1DR What Else? 
Sheri, I feel that teachers have been under attack since the mid 1990s, with testing and accountability and blame for everything that does not work in public education, or is perceived to not work. Now they are also in fear for their lives and the safety of their students. It’s a wonder anyone chooses this profession.
I read about teacher shortages in Oklahoma and strikes in West Virginia. I fear very much for the future of this country.
I greatly admire the #clmooc group for how it has connected people from all over the world and for how it has allowed me to join and share my ideas. I wish I could see more consistent and on-going focus on the problems we face, expressed through the daily doodles and creative expression posted by various members.
How can these visualizations create a better understanding of the complex problems we’re facing, along with some potential paths to solutions? How can they draw more people into discussions of these problems, and potential solutions?
Thanks Daniel. I think you’re right about schools today. I also believe that continuing the discussion about arming teachers sends on a path of fear and armed citizens where no one is safe. We should be presenting the vision of safe and joyful schools, because most of them are. Whatever vision we continue– that’s what will be.
And about the images— I think creating ones with such dimension as you describe requires a group effort, and within a group that deals with the issues– people working towards that goal. That would be the best way to create and promote such visualizations and ideas.
As always, so appreciate your ideas. ~ Sheri