Dec 15, 2012

Art Teachers, Come Together for Sandy Hook

There are some days we wake up, and it feels like it would be easier to close our eyes and pretend reality doesn’t exist… that what happened, never really happened at all. Yesterday, following the events in Connecticut, I experienced many of these feelings, and I know many of you did as well.

After hearing about the attack, the only thing I wanted to do was to grab my daughter and hold her tight. Almost immediately after, my thoughts went to you, our audience, tens of thousands of Art Teachers across the country and world. I wondered how all of you were coping, how all of you were going to make it through the day, and how schools everywhere could move on with ‘business as normal’ after such an event. As educators, this event hits very close to home. We are the first line of response, and feel the deep responsibility of taking care of our students in so many different ways, each and every day.

I wondered if there was anything I could do to help…After losing my father at a young age, I can attest that in times like this, one of the best things people can do is to just listen, to address the situation, acknowledge and respect each others thoughts and feelings, and keep lines of communication open.

I don’t have any super strong motivational messages to share today, or any deep philosophical analysis to provide… what happened yesterday was a complete an utter tragedy, and no words can fix that or make it go away.If nothing else, I want you to know today that you’re not alone. We are all part of a larger community of Art Teachers that supports each other, loves each other, and understands each other. Perhaps a chance to talk with other teachers will help you heal or provide a professional outlet. I know many of you left the school day on Friday after a busy day of teaching and didn’t get much, if any, type of resolution from your school.

My question today is not a question, but an invitation.

Feel free to share your prayers/wishes for those effected by Sandy Hook, ask questions about how others and other schools are handling this horrific event, or just listen to the conversation.

Lauren Wenk

Art fundraiser???
Ted Edinger

Our school is bringing in the police department Monday or Tuesday to discuss school safety with the faculty. We’ve been reminded to lock windows…make sure our exit doors are all closed when we come in using our FOB…etc. As a faculty..we gathered together at the end of the day and prayed for the families,school, and community(its the south..we pray..even in public school)
- prayers from ct
  
  That is so nice Ted. I feel very upset. There was little acknowledgement yesterday of the events that happened less then 40 minutes down the street from us. There was no announcement to check our e-mail or even an e-mail after all the events. My phone was in my desk because it was a busy day and i had no time to check it. Then I saw tons of messages. One teacher told me in the hallway. Still no e-mail or anything to address this. I am very discouraged. What if this were like the twin towers where there was more then one attacker? Why was not more action taken. These are all questions that I will for sure bringing to the attention of administrators as now I feel even more unsafe. This is unbelievable.
  
  Peace Education and the Arts must become an integral part of our curriculums. Perhaps Peace Education through the Arts. There are too many people slipping through the cracks not getting the help they need. And gun control, don’t get me started. I have no idea why anyone would ever need guns that fire hundreds of rounds? This is insane.
  
  Our family can’t stop talking about this heartbreak, the anger, and tears. I cannot ever fathom this type of loss. We will all be praying hard for many days to come.
  - http://twitter.com/TheOnlyIngrid Ingrid
    
    Wow, praying for you in CT. Our administration sent out an email today, Saturday, to staff, then an email blast to parents. Hopefully your administration will take action shortly. Here is a link to a blog article that had some suggestions for teachers, specifically to bring up to administrators.
    http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/2012/12/teaching-through-tragedy.html
    I am guessing they are also in shock as well, as I can’t imagine that they are apathetic, more likely trying to find the right thing to do, and delaying. :(
    Our school has a very OLD and un-rehearsed lock down drill. The last time we drilled it was two superintendants ago, which means it is at least 4 years without a drill.
    I’m guessing a lot of schools will be updating plans.
    - http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley
      
      Ingrid,
      Thanks for sharing this link. Some great information here. Also, old and unrehearsed is a fair way to describe many teachers lock down drills. We practice fire and tornado like they are going out of style. The other is a once a year affair, and shouldn’t be.
Novak Amanda

Thanks Jessica. I think for me when I got past the initial shock and sick feeling, I thought about what I would have done. What kids would I have had in my room at the time, would my actions differ deep ding on the age of kids, would I have kept them in lock down in my room or found a way for them to leave the building? How would have kept my kids clam and quiet, how and where would I hide them? If a gunman showed up in my room what would I do? Shield the kids or charge and hope to take him out? I know I would do everything in my power to protect those kids – protect them as if they were my own blood. I find it interesting that no one in my family has asked me what I would do in this situation, but I think it is because they know the answer – they know I would put my life on the line so that kids could live – and while my loved ones would agree this is the right answer, and what they say I should do – I am sure their hearts say differently. My mom we call”Mama Bear” because she is fiercely protective of her kids. I am sure she is currently conflicted about having me in an Elementary classroom. She would want those kids safe, but want me safe as well.

I hope I am never in a situation where I would need to make some of the choices above- I only pray that if I ever have to that I will be calm enough to lead this kids to safety – whether that means singing silly song in a whisper huddled in the corner, or getting them to run to cover out of the building. I hope I would have a clear state of mind, the ability to assess the situation, and keep everyone safe, but mostly I hope I never have to be put in such a situation.

As far as helping kids cope with this – I wouldn’t mind helping out in some way, but I don’t know how? What do I say to the kids? What if tree are some kids that don’t know, what if I creat more stress and fear for them? How do I create a project for kids to heal their own fears while providing healing for Conneticut? Maybe a lesson on fear/hope?
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley
  
  Amanda,
  I have no doubt we would all do the very best we could if put in a difficult situation.
http://drawthelineat.blogspot.com/ Jen

It is such a sad sad tragedy I couldn’t even focus at work today because every little life that entered my room made me want to cry. My heart goes out to them all.
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley
  
  I agree, Jen .
Maggie Moschell

In 1996 there was a shooting at an elementary school in Dunblane, Scotland. Here’s a link to the story of how I was able to help, even so far away. http://enquirer.com/columns/ramsey/1996/08/083196_kr.html
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley
  
  Maggie- You are inspiring. Thank you for sharing that article. What a great idea!
- Paige Trent
  
  Are you trying to send bears to the students at Sandy Hook? If so, how can I donate money?
Linda H.

This has been a difficult school year for us. Two of our elementary school girls were abducted last July and their bodies were found by hunters this month. The heartbreaking news of Friday’s school shooting hurts deeply. I spend time everyday with kindergarten students and they remind me to imagine, play and be friends with everyone. They play superheroes at recess, need help tying shoes,misspeak words in charming ways, tell silly jokes and love their friends and teachers. How sad that they will not grow up, and their families, classmates and community will suffer great loss.
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley
  
  Linda,
  I know of the story you speak of, as I live only an hour away.
http://twitter.com/TheOnlyIngrid Ingrid

The first job interview I *ever* had, was at a teacher job fair on my campus, less than a year after Columbine. I wanted a warm-up interview, and chose a district out-of-state at random – Colorado, I knew I wasn’t planning on relocating out of the Midwest. I interviewed well, and the interviewer told me they would like to offer me the job, but they wanted to let me know it was for Columbine H.S.
I awkwardly explained the situation and thanked them for the offer, and told them I had to turn them down, it wasn’t because of the shooting.
I was hired at my first teaching job as a December grad as a permanent sub, and the HS I was hired at had a bomb threat called in on the one year anniversary of Columbine. Calming and organizing myself and the students during the evacuation was an experience.
A few years after that, my Alma Mater had a shooting in the building where my parents, both professors, have often taught classes. I was relieved to call and find them both off-campus and okay.

I went home Friday and just had to sit and bawl by myself. I don’t have kids myself, and my K-8 students are ‘my kids’ in a way. I don’t know how to completely express how I feel about all these- too much… I grieve for so many parents and families, and lives that will go on without their babies. The school that will surely have scars for a very long time… graduating class that will be smaller…. homerooms that will need to be re-organized… changing of seating charts….
I am so sad, so sad.
Praying for healing.
Ingrid
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley
  
  Ingrid,
  It’s scary when it hits so close to home. Your words are so true, and so well spoken.
Rachel

I can’t be the only “art on a cart” teacher who doesn’t have a single key for the 35 classrooms I teach in.
- Novak Amanda
  
  Are there keys posted in the room somewhere. Both my buildings have keys in a designated spots so that anyone in the room has access.
- Spbivona
  
  All keys room keys ard hung on a hook next to the door in EVERY classroom in my school!
- KAS
  
  No, you’re not. I never really thought about this, either. I teach on a sprawling campus, 67 or so classrooms/portables, and I do not have a building master key, and the keys to the rooms are NOT hung by the doors. Scary to think about…
http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley

Thank you to everyone who has shared helpful hints, stories and your expertise. It means a lot.
Beth C.

I’m less than 20 miles from Sandy Hook Elementary and as a faculty, I knew nothing about the shooting until a colleague told me as my classes were changing. I do believe our administrators were in shock. A quick lock down was called at early dismissal (we were having late parent conferences because of the days lost from Sandy) but no explanation as to why. Students were only being released to their parents. About 15 minutes later it was announced that buses would be arriving. Our district was in turmoil.
Tomorrow will be a difficult day seeing my little guys full of life, yet knowing a few miles away there will always be 20 less students in a loving community. I pray for healing for the many lives so tragically altered .
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley
  
  Thank you for sharing your story, Beth. We are all praying, too.
http://www.facebook.com/thehairypotterstudio Sandi Jo DeLoge

I learned of the tragedy between classes on Friday, I looked around my art room at the active creative life-filled faces … My heart broke just thinking about losing twenty of them in an instant! I see 700+ kids a week like so many of us and they are all mine. I love them. And tell them that I do. And they say. “You love us??” Of course I do!! Why wouldn’t I. You are my kids!!! I know we aren’t “supposed” to talk to my kids that way. But I don’t care!! I listened as a teacher at Sandy Hook told how she told her students she was hiding that she loved them. She said she just wanted them to have those words in there hearts if they were to perish at the hands of the shooter!!
I ask that you remember at least one victim of this tragedy. Erase the shooters name from your memory.
I am holding Emalie Parker 6 years old in my heart. She loved carrying crayons and paper around so she could make cards for people she thought needed some cheering up!!
Sorry for the rambling….
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley
  
  Sandi,
  What a touching idea to keep one of the victims in your heart. Maybe I will buy a “Toys for Tots” (a program that gives toys to kids who don’t have a lot for Christmas) in memory of one of the children.
- Crystal
  
  Sandi,
  I love your post. I don’t care what they say either, we are HUMANS, no more, no less. To LOVE is to be HUMAN. I’m personally surrounded with push and shove from top down about “What an EFFECTIVE Teacher looks like”, and the ideal we are being measured against in evaluations is synonymous with a Stepford Wife, in my opinion. Not bothered much by the insult, mainly because actually I teach because it’s part of what ARTISTS DO, so why not do what I do best with people who appreciate it most, and fill my purpose by inspiring kids and future generations. So, I stand on my firm ground and say, “So what if I’m Human!” Love every child as you Love your own, it’s the least that they deserve. The soulful purity and joyful spirit of innocence is the most sacred state of humanity, which warrants the assurance of nourishment and preservation by EVERY human being. A threat against a child is a desecration of humanity in which we all share. These are the values that should be upheld in the Education System, but sadly I see to be less and less noticeable, among the focus of interests, from each day to the next. KUDOS to those of YOU WHO DO what comes natural to preserve our humanity.
http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley

I know this is not the time or place, but in the future, I am curious if everyone would want more articles focused on safety in the art room, emergency procedures, organization and preparedness, coping strategies, etc?
http://profile.yahoo.com/YJHQQYUGKKAV5WCJS54UGHP4FA denisep

Why do children have to die? I heard someone once say that it inspires us to be better people; to do more good in this world. I hope that is true. I know that losing my own son, Nate, age 13, has definitely made me want to do more in memory of him. I urge all of us, in memory of all the children who have gone to Heaven too soon, do something good today, tomorrow, and every day.
http://www.deafartteacher.blogspot.com/ Deaf Art Teacher

I put my healing process in a post on my blog at http://www.deafartteacher.blogspot.com
I’ve said several times today – I’ve noticed that the classroom can be 45 minutes of peace for some students. This situation was hard as it was so close to my hometown and I know several people who know someone from Newtown, and there was one classmate, and I could go on… My post focuses on “Art as Healing” http://www.deafartteacher.blogspot.com

My school did have a meeting at the end of the day to review safety, security, lockdown systems. We pretty much agreed that our school has a great system, with a few minor things we can go ahead and improve, but mostly some situations are just difficult to prevent.

I hope school systems all over continue to improve their security systems, improve special education, incorporate anti-bullying programs, promote the arts, instill character in our students, then hope and pray for the best.