A Heroic Educator at Sandy Hook
According to the Facebook entry at the end of this post, 27-year-old teacher Victoria Soto hid her students in closets and cabinets; she told the killer the children were in the gym. Her first thought was to protect her children. He killed her.
The Wall Street Journal said this about her on a blog:
First-grade teacher Vicki Leigh Soto, 27 years old, died trying to protect the children she loved, her cousin Jim Wiltsie said.
When the gunfire started on Friday morning, she gathered her students and tried to hide them in a classroom
The Wall Street Journal said this about her on a blog:
First-grade teacher Vicki Leigh Soto, 27 years old, died trying to protect the children she loved, her cousin Jim Wiltsie said.
When the gunfire started on Friday morning, she gathered her students and tried to hide them in a classroom
Reflections from Readers, 19
I teach in Connecticut, in another small rural district. We used to have doors that only locked on the outside, so during intruder drills we actually had to open our doors, go out in the hallway, and then lock them. Not a very effective way of protecting students. Eventually the locks were replaced so that we never had to open the door to lock it. My school was built in the 50s during saner times. No one anticipated that schools would have to become fortresses. I am surprised that the front door to her school is not locked. After Columbine I thought that was standard procedure. My pet peeve is the teachers who wedge open side doors so they don’t have to keep
Reflections from Readers, 18
The article in the Times said that Dawn believed children should be critical thinkers. She also kept her teachers informed on education policies coming out of Washington. It is no surprise that she followed your blog. It’s unfortunate it took this tragedy to let people know that she did not like Duncan’s policies. I am sure this has already been communicated to Arne and the president. I wish more administrators would.honor her memory by following her example.
Reflections from Readers, 17
I’ve been shaken to the core thinking about those precious innocents and their last moments while teachers struggled to protect them with their last breath.
In the name of these sweet children, we must address the serious issues that face this nation.
Yesterday, I posted on Twitter ~ In the name of these innocent children.. we need strict gun control. to hell with the NRA~ over and over again. I was at a loss for words so I just continued to post it over and over and over again.
I couldn’t believe the hate I received in return!
More evidence we need to address the serious societal issues our nation is facing,
Mental health- many posted yesterday that it was easier to get a gun than it was to get mental health services
In the name of these sweet children, we must address the serious issues that face this nation.
Yesterday, I posted on Twitter ~ In the name of these innocent children.. we need strict gun control. to hell with the NRA~ over and over again. I was at a loss for words so I just continued to post it over and over and over again.
I couldn’t believe the hate I received in return!
More evidence we need to address the serious societal issues our nation is facing,
Mental health- many posted yesterday that it was easier to get a gun than it was to get mental health services
Reflections from Readers, 16
I taught with Dawn many years ago in a self contained behavioral program. She was an excellent educator, a devoted mother, a proud grandmother, and a beautiful human being who reached out to help everyone she met. Our hearts are broken; we are devastated. God bless the dedicated educators and the innocent, gentle babies.
Reflections from Readers, 14
People don’t usually think of teachers as first responders, but that is exactly what they are. Whether it is physical assault, social aggression, emotional trauma or cognitive battering, educators are there to protect and defend our nation’s children each day.
Many thanks to the Sandy Hook administrators, faculty and staff who so clearly demonstrated how committed
Many thanks to the Sandy Hook administrators, faculty and staff who so clearly demonstrated how committed
Reflections from Readers, 13
I am really proud of the teachers at that school. Parents and authorities are saying that their quick thinking and bravery saved other students who may have been killed as well.
Reflections from Readers, 12
I really am amazed how inadequate our support systems are, especially for our “troubled” students. The guidance counselor would “fit my students” into their schedule. Sometimes that was just a few times a month. And these are children who needed professional help. We can spend money on tests, but people like Bloomberg are threatening to fire guidance counselors when most schools need more than one. Currently many GC and psychologists are working on split sessions in more than one school. That is just so wrong.
I see what my own niece is going through with her son, and despite all her pleas, all he ever got was out-patient services. It wasn’t until he was 17 that he was hospitalized, but it was too late. They let him out after a few
I see what my own niece is going through with her son, and despite all her pleas, all he ever got was out-patient services. It wasn’t until he was 17 that he was hospitalized, but it was too late. They let him out after a few
Reflections from Readers, 11
Here is Dawn dressed up as the Sandy Hook Book Fairy reading to the kids. Let’s believe they are all reading together in heaven, safe and protected.
https://mobile.twitter.com/DHochsprung/status/269538800085118977/photo/1
https://mobile.twitter.com/DHochsprung/status/269538800085118977/photo/1
Reflections from Readers, 10
From a teacher:
I am sickened over this, as a mom, as an educator. How often do we see young children in our classrooms who need serious help and can’t find the resources to help them because of severe budget cuts? My school shares a guidance counselor with 2 other schools. She is awesome and does her best, but let’s be realistic. In this current day and age children are exposed to all kinds of violence. Many children are broken by fifth grade, the grade I teach, and it’s so frustrating not to be able to do anything, but hug them, reach out to the family and be there for them. At that point, testing is a non-issue. My prayers go out to all involved. I just tell myself there are 20 more angels in heaven looking down on us. Maybe they will be able to help us.
I am sickened over this, as a mom, as an educator. How often do we see young children in our classrooms who need serious help and can’t find the resources to help them because of severe budget cuts? My school shares a guidance counselor with 2 other schools. She is awesome and does her best, but let’s be realistic. In this current day and age children are exposed to all kinds of violence. Many children are broken by fifth grade, the grade I teach, and it’s so frustrating not to be able to do anything, but hug them, reach out to the family and be there for them. At that point, testing is a non-issue. My prayers go out to all involved. I just tell myself there are 20 more angels in heaven looking down on us. Maybe they will be able to help us.
Reflections from Readers, 9
From a reader:
Unfortunately, nothing is going to change within our society due to this terrible tragedy. The people of power control our society and have no need to change the class system that benefits them in all ways. It is not just about gun control, it is really about the maintenance of the societal status quo. The rich & powerful will maintain
Unfortunately, nothing is going to change within our society due to this terrible tragedy. The people of power control our society and have no need to change the class system that benefits them in all ways. It is not just about gun control, it is really about the maintenance of the societal status quo. The rich & powerful will maintain
Reflections from Readers, 1
From Jere Hochman, superintendent of schools in Bedford, New York:
Daily, your followers find wisdom, insight, and courage in your posts – an ally in taking on one educational cause or another. Today, we find comfort – and an ally in taking on causes of life and death proportion. And – to Lisa (above) – thank you for sharing. The loss of a son to gun violence is just tragic. May his memory be a blessing.
If only America had a memory – and Presidents and Governors and Legislators had some courage.
30 years ago (next month) my principal, my fellow assistant principal, and I with others literally wrote the book
Daily, your followers find wisdom, insight, and courage in your posts – an ally in taking on one educational cause or another. Today, we find comfort – and an ally in taking on causes of life and death proportion. And – to Lisa (above) – thank you for sharing. The loss of a son to gun violence is just tragic. May his memory be a blessing.
If only America had a memory – and Presidents and Governors and Legislators had some courage.
30 years ago (next month) my principal, my fellow assistant principal, and I with others literally wrote the book
Reflections from Readers, 2
From a teacher:
Confused,
As a teacher in Connecticut, near Sandy Hook, I saw the look on my fellow colleagues faces that we no longer could say that something like this could never happen here. I teach in an amazing suburban school district, like Newtown, and it was clear that our high school was in no way safer because of its location if something like this could happen a few towns away.
Yet I knew that many teachers in Connecticut were having similar thoughts. My husband teaches in the city of
Confused,
As a teacher in Connecticut, near Sandy Hook, I saw the look on my fellow colleagues faces that we no longer could say that something like this could never happen here. I teach in an amazing suburban school district, like Newtown, and it was clear that our high school was in no way safer because of its location if something like this could happen a few towns away.
Yet I knew that many teachers in Connecticut were having similar thoughts. My husband teaches in the city of
Reflections from Readers, 3
From a retired principal:
I am a retired principal of an elementary school. I don’t have any answers either but, as most educators know, cuts in social workers, limited powers of educators who know there are kids who need mental health services but are constrained by “rules” that dictate which kids get help and which kids do not, and parents who cannot face the fact that their child has problems that need to be addressed. In my last year as a principal, the
I am a retired principal of an elementary school. I don’t have any answers either but, as most educators know, cuts in social workers, limited powers of educators who know there are kids who need mental health services but are constrained by “rules” that dictate which kids get help and which kids do not, and parents who cannot face the fact that their child has problems that need to be addressed. In my last year as a principal, the
Reflections from Readers, 4
From a teacher in Wisconsin:
I can’t stop crying. In 1994 my associate principal was shot at my school here in Wisconsin. I have had counseling through the years but when something like this happens I am right back to 1994. I remain in teaching
I can’t stop crying. In 1994 my associate principal was shot at my school here in Wisconsin. I have had counseling through the years but when something like this happens I am right back to 1994. I remain in teaching
Blogger: Exploiting a Tragedy
The South Bronx blogger is a teacher in one of New York City’s poorest neighborhoods.
He is outraged that StudentsFirst issued a self-aggrandizing statement about the Connecticut massacre that ignored the heroism of the staff (whose tenure and benefits StudentsFirst tried to diminish in the last session of the legislature) and referred to 20 precious and beloved children as “assets.” SF assures the people of Connecticut that it stands ready to reform schools like Sandy Hook.
Need I say that this intrusion of self-interest is contemptible?
Thanks to SF, Connecticut will count student test scores
He is outraged that StudentsFirst issued a self-aggrandizing statement about the Connecticut massacre that ignored the heroism of the staff (whose tenure and benefits StudentsFirst tried to diminish in the last session of the legislature) and referred to 20 precious and beloved children as “assets.” SF assures the people of Connecticut that it stands ready to reform schools like Sandy Hook.
Need I say that this intrusion of self-interest is contemptible?
Thanks to SF, Connecticut will count student test scores
Reflections from Readers, 5
From a reader:
“I ask why and how our society has become so desensitized to violence and at the same time so addicted to it.”
We’re addicted to violence because that is what our country glorifies. See Diane’s experience at the movies for example.
Many here won’t like what I am going to say but I believe it needs
“I ask why and how our society has become so desensitized to violence and at the same time so addicted to it.”
We’re addicted to violence because that is what our country glorifies. See Diane’s experience at the movies for example.
Many here won’t like what I am going to say but I believe it needs
Good Teachers Are Good People
Jersey Jazzman salutes the heroic teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary School.
He bashes the teacher-bashers because they are bullies.
Would they have the courage to protect a room full of innocent babies?
He bashes the teacher-bashers because they are bullies.
Would they have the courage to protect a room full of innocent babies?
Reflections from Readers, 6
From a teacher:
As these horrific events were unfolding, I spent the day teaching kindergarten and first grade music classes. We sang, we played games, we laughed together. The horror of this tragedy is that it could have happened anywhere in America. Our schools connect us, they nurture our children, they define our communities. So proud of the heroic actions of our teaching brothers and sisters in Newtown.
As these horrific events were unfolding, I spent the day teaching kindergarten and first grade music classes. We sang, we played games, we laughed together. The horror of this tragedy is that it could have happened anywhere in America. Our schools connect us, they nurture our children, they define our communities. So proud of the heroic actions of our teaching brothers and sisters in Newtown.
Reflections from Readers, 7
A reader comments:
Schools are buckling under, often contradictory, legislation created in response to challenges and tragedies. The problem is not that there aren’t enough metal detectors or mandatory lockdown drills. The problem also isn’t video games or films. The problem is that the mentally ill have easier access to handguns than to psych services.
Schools are buckling under, often contradictory, legislation created in response to challenges and tragedies. The problem is not that there aren’t enough metal detectors or mandatory lockdown drills. The problem also isn’t video games or films. The problem is that the mentally ill have easier access to handguns than to psych services.
Reflections from Readers, 8
From a reader:
Really? This is “education’s fault?” This is the “liberal’s” fault? This is the fault of all of us allowing society to lose its moral compass starting with the family structure. It is about our widening class system and people not caring about one another. This is not about what education does not do nor is it a liberal problem; it is a societal problem linked to lobbyists (NRA) and politics (big money & power!)
Really? This is “education’s fault?” This is the “liberal’s” fault? This is the fault of all of us allowing society to lose its moral compass starting with the family structure. It is about our widening class system and people not caring about one another. This is not about what education does not do nor is it a liberal problem; it is a societal problem linked to lobbyists (NRA) and politics (big money & power!)
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-15-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Today We Mourn by dianerav I had half a dozen interesting posts ready to go out today, but I decided it was inappropriate to return to business as usual after the tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. I postponed them. So you won’t be getting another post today. This is a time to mourn, to reflect, to be still. It’s a time to think about the heroic staff at the school who reacted immediately to protect their students. It’s a time to think about the principal Dawn Hochsprung and the school psychologist... more »