The Heavy Stuff - Talking about Sandy Hook

This term at school, I am desperately trying to have my students be more aware about current events and the news. Of course we talked about the Sandy Hook school shooting. For the first time as a teacher, my classroom was absolutely silent as I read a child-friendly news article to them about the tragedy. The kids sat with their mouths open and only looks of shock swept their faces. Of course they asked me questions that I would never have answers to like why someone would shoot innocent people, what was wrong with the shooter and if I think our school would be safe.

Again, I had no answers for them. For the first time as a teacher I felt defeated. As a teacher, I am supposed to have all the answers but all I could respond with was, "I do not know." The discussion was full of emotion, sympathy, sensitivity and thoughtful responses from my students. I was floored by their maturity. If you are one of those people who think young a child cannot proccess heavy material or worry some things should not be talked about with children then just reflect on the comments below from my students.

"Ms. Nicol, I wonder why that shooter did this. Maybe he just did not get enough love and hugs and notes in his in lunch." From a profound 7 year old. 

"It sounds like a nightmare but with my eyes open." - A deep 7 year old

"Teachers are really brave. They are like superheros without the cape." - An amazing 8 year old

"My mom does not even let me play with water guns and toy guns. Maybe his mom let him play with those. " - A curious 8 year old

Student: What was the shooters name?
Ms. Nicol: Adam
Student: That sounds like a normal good name. Why would he do something so bad?

"I wonder what those kids and teachers who died wanted to be when they grew up." A

I posted the first comment on facebook because it moved me. I wonder if I was as articulate and sophisticated at 7 or 8 years old. My friend Chantelle from high school wrote a response to my student's comment and the senseless Sandy Hook shooting.

A butterfly flapped its wings and the world crumbled for those parents who sent theirs kids off to school after hugs and with packed lunches maybe with notes in them. Those parents will always be hopefully waiting for the return of their child and for some sense of understanding and they will not get either. A butterfly flapped its wings in Connecticut and even in Tanzania, in my tiny classroom, our world crumbled.

I guess a butterfly flapped its wings…

By Chantelle Doswell on January 12, 2013 I guess a butterfly flapped its wings somewhere
and now- all the way over here- the world is crumbling

And there’s tears in the eyes of a stranger
Fears in the eyes of this locked stare
With a child unaware-
how right they are.
“My dear, our world is crumbling”
And somehow
I don’t have the answers

We don’t have the answers
We’re all looking to you child,

Trying to fix videogames in hopes

That you won’t kill each other- like we do.

Hey, we have to try

Don’t we?

But that’s a lie,

don’t be surprised

People will generally run and hide

From having to face ourselves

Call it hubris- pride

But I’d
Thought there’d only be hope in the eyes of a child

But, you can see it too,
The world is crumbling around you
And as crazy as it may sound to you now ,
there are so many true, yet crazy, things
but often times a butterfly will flap its wings
And cause an earthquake