It’s what’s on my mind, so I’m checking in. I was at school giving a quiz (mean teacher) when I heard the news. When something like this happens at a school, I immediately go into two modes. The parent in me desperately wants to protect and hug my children. The teacher in me feels sympathy for the role the teachers in that school had to take on.
I’m madly in love with my job, and more importantly, I’m madly in love with my students. I tell them all the time that I want to keep them safe from harmful words, from bullying, and from the pressures that come with adolescence. It’s abhorring to think I might need to keep them safe from bullets as well.
So while I am hugging my children extra tight this weekend, and I’m praying constantly for the families that have lost a child, my heart also aches for the teachers in Newtown. I know they didn’t go into education thinking their duties would include hiding and shielding students from harm. Thank you not only to the teachers who lost their lives, but also to those who will forever be scarred by that fateful day.
Thank you for this heartfelt post…I am a mother to a second year 4th grade teacher and your words have touched me very much. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as well!
My heart is broken. My granddaughters are 9 and 7 and I wish they were here so I could hug them. I pray that Christ will put his arms around those who are grieving.
I’m more than sad though, I’m furious…that someone would dare hurt a little child. This happened in a peaceful little town in Connecticut. That means it could happen anywhere.
I was a teacher for many years and I always felt strongly about protecting my students and making them feel safe. This is just a terrible nightmare that children should not have to endure, I pray for all of those families and pray that this horrible tragedy will push our country to make changes and join hands to come together. Thank you for your post.
Thank you so much for this. I have 3 children (3rd, 7th & 8th) & only pray that they will be blessed to have teachers that love them as much as those teachers that gave their life protecting those babies! This weekend we’ve discussed the horrific events & my children have included all the victims in their prayers without instruction. It’s all so heartbreaking! Something no parent/teacher/child should ever have to fear! I am, honestly, dreading sending them to school tomorrow but I’m so grateful I have them home with me right now!
Thank you for writing this post. I am also a teacher and a parent. I would like to think that I would do the same things that these teachers did to protect their students. My heart is broken for this school and our country.
It was a very sad event and my heart is so grieved. Praying for all those effected by the this shooting and praying for the family, students, friends, spouses who are hurting.
Vanessa
I, too, am grieving for all these families. I am a grandmother to 8 and 4 yr old boys and an 18 mo. old baby girl. I pray that each person affected by this tragedy can somehow move on with their lives and, in time, find peace.
This was such a horrific event to hear about, I can’t even imagine what the people there actually felt. Thank you for mentioning the adults that lost their lives. It breaks my heart to hear about all of the young children, but there were adults that lost their lives that day too.
I am simply broken-hearted. Thank you for teaching, and for loving your students.
Lovely post… Thanks for sharing your point of view as a parent, a teacher, and a protector. Your insight makes me happy that my children have people in their lives like you. I don’t want to insulate my kids. (well – I do, but I won’t.) Life is out there, but it goes on regardless. But, I’m glad there are safety nets like you, and I will strive to be one as well. So I say thank you for being an awesome teacher! And thank you for recognizing not only the lives lost, but also those who survived and will need our love and support in figuring out how to carry on. Love to all!