Another Day, Another School Shooting

 Another Day, Another School Shooting

 

Horrific news that once again a child has killed other children in his school.   Everyone has a solution.  Arm the teachers, increase mental health services, lock those bad kids up for the rest of their lives, prosecute the parents- all such great ideas, few of which would prevent anything.

Again and again with every shooter, the same issue comes to the fore.  These kids did not feel known.  In fact, they were NOT known.  In the case of the Georgia child, the administrator went to what she thought was his class but had the wrong kid with a similar name.   Certainly, we can lock them up for the rest of their lives as Trump says of these “vicious, evil people”.   But they aren’t vicious or evil people.   They have done vicious and evil things, no question.   They were once babies and little people in kindergarten that were known to teachers and family.  What can we do to make kids feel known?

A principal at a California high school says he treats the first day of school like the first episode of a Netflix show he wants his students to binge on.  “The minute they walk through the door, I want to hook them so that they come back for more.”  On the first week of school teachers take it slow.  They don’t rush to introduce the syllabus or course requirements.  (What NO course pacing guide that makes everyday a milestone!!)   They play a version of beach volleyball.  Each colored section of the ball features questions- like “pet’s name”, “what movie do you want to act in”,  “what’s your favorite ice cream”.   Kids answer according to the section of the ball that faces them.  It’s fun, an ice breaker and a way for children to identify as something else besides a number on a seating chart.

Another thing to do is to believe what we learn from research.  The bigger the school the more anonymous the student.  Stop building high schools that hold several thousand kids.

Students are very happy to be back in school in person.   And now that they are, the anxieties of fitting in are growing.  School leaders have to be intentional about getting kids to feel they fit in the school.  Students need to feel that their well being matters.  They need to be seen for being really nice kids who are perhaps a bit different, and they need to fit in as well.

When they don’t get the attention they need from positive sources, they sure will from being that “evil” kid.  

Another day, another shooting will happen unless you notice me before rather than after, you know me for being bad.