Trigger Warning - Gun Violence, School Shootings, Mass Shootings
8 Years,
96 Months,
416 Weeks,
2,920 Days.
December 14th, 2012. That was 8 Years ago today.
December 14th, 2012. One of the darkest days in modern American history.
On that day, millions of American families would wake up, send their children off to school on a Friday morning. On that day, Millions of Teachers, principals, school psychologists and behavior therapists would wake up, kiss their loved ones good by and head off to work. To teach.
On that day, 20 kindergarten students, 20 five-to-six-year old’s, 20 children would not return home.
On that day, 6 adults. 2 teachers, 1 principal, 1 behavior therapist, 1 school psychologist and one special education teacher, would not return home.
On that day, those kids never got a chance to grow up. Those kids never got a chance to make the world a better place. Those kids never got to grow up.
School shootings are not uncommon, in any given year you can assume there will be at least one school shooting per month, except this year. This year, 2020, school children, kindergartners, high schoolers, teachers, principals, school psychologists, they are all safe. This year, because schools are closed, and students are at home learning through a computer screen. This year there have been 5 school shootings. Why? Because of a global pandemic.
It has taken 8 years and over 200 school shootings for children finally to be safe while learning. Not because of anything the government has done to keep them safe in the classroom, but because a global pandemic is keeping them out of the classroom.
December 14th, 2012 is one of the days in my life that I remember vividly. December 14th is one of the days every year that I remember and think of the tragedy and darkness that date brings with it.
I have always thought that after each shooting something is going to change, this time must be the one, and then you look at Sandy Hook and how nothing has really changed since then, it’s hard to have any faith that people actually care. That people actually care about their children and others being safe in school because there really isn’t a true safe place for children besides at home, behind a computer screen, during a global pandemic.
Everyone wants students to return to the classroom so that they can get the proper education they need, but the education they deserve should not include active shooter drills and the possibility of never making it out.
The pandemic may have kept them safe, but with the vaccine starting to arrive, it’s time to start thinking about the vaccine for school shootings as well.
To the children who never got to grow up, you will never be forgotten, to the educators who gave their lives that day, may you rest in peace, and to all the families that still grieve for their loved ones to this day, I am at a loss for words, I can only imagine the pain you have had to endure.
Charlotte Bacon, 6
Daniel Barden, 7
Olivia Engel, 6
Josephine Gay, 7
Dylan Hockley, 6
Madeleine Hsu, 6
Catherine Hubbard, 6
Chase Kowalski, 7
Jesse Lewis, 6
Ana Márquez-Greene, 6
James Mattioli, 6
Grace McDonnell, 7
Emilie Parker, 6
Jack Pinto, 6
Noah Pozner, 6
Caroline Previdi, 6
Jessica Rekos, 6
Avielle Richman, 6
Benjamin Wheeler, 6
Allison Wyatt, 6
Rachel D'Avino, 29, behavior therapist
Dawn Hochsprung, 47, principal
Anne Marie Murphy, 52, special education teacher
Lauren Rousseau, 30, teacher
Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist
Victoria Leigh Soto, 27, teacher