NEA Reacts to School Shooting in Connecticut
By Sara Robertson
On Friday, a gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut and opened fire on students and staff, killing at least 26. It is the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. The shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007 resulted in the deaths of 32.“We join the Newtown community and our entire nation in mourning the deaths of innocent children and educators due to violence,” said National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel. “As members of the education community, we extend our deepest sympathies to members of the AFTCT who have lost friends and colleagues. We are deeply concerned for everyone in the Newtown
Talking to Kids about Tragedy, Educators’ Guidelines
In a crisis, experts say talking to children about the event is important, but must be done with sensitivity and awareness. The National Health Information Network’s school crisis guide outlines how to approach children who have been subjected to high profile acts of violence, particularly in schools. ”We don’t know what other people have already been through. What we know from research is that if people have been through a trauma, even three or four years ago, a crisis like this can re-traumatize them,” says Jerry Newberry, executive director of NEA Health Information Network. Those events “can confuse and frighten children who may feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved ones are at risk. They will look to adults for information and guidance on how to react,” according to the NHIN crisis guide. Source: WTOP
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