Virginia Tech Tragedy

Updated with new links.

"Schools should be places of safety and sanctuary and learning. When that sanctuary is violated, the impact is felt in every American classroom and every American community." That is the only thing I will ever agree with George W. Bush about.

So now, when I send my girls off to school I need to tell them to be ready for learning, be kind to their friends, and, oh, if anyone comes into your classroom shooting, pretend to be dead.

My heart goes out to everyone affected by the tragedy.

Related links:

• From Dr. Lo Siento on Rice Daddies
• From Kimchi Mamas
• My post on Kimchi Mamas
• From Strollerderby
• From Silicon Valley Moms
• From Dorothy on BlogHer

Comments

[Heather]

Amen!

[honglien123]

It's too bad he also felt the need to have a spokesman remind everyone that he was and still is pro-gun. =(

[Denzylle]

I don't know how you could ever explain the concept of 'pretending to be dead' to a young child, or to put it in the horrific context of a real situation, but it also saved the life of one of the children in the Dunblane massacre. Of the whole class of five and six year olds, the only one who wasn't killed or injured was the one boy who played dead.

[mox]

still reeling - it feels like the world is closing in doesn't it? I'm thinking of homeschooling my son...for college.

[Mom101]

Argh, well put. I came here especially because I knew you'd shed light on this in an interesting way.

[Jenny]

Good advice. I shall remember that for when my little dood starts school. LOL

[Eleanor the Great]

I'm visiting Virginia, and it's very sad over here. We're on the other side of the state, but there are several people who work at the hotel I'm at who have family in Blackburg. A friend of mine has a mother that works there. We've all been glued to our TV's and radios, waiting to hear more.

One thing that has struck me right now is that I hadn't realized how many businesses in the area have flagpoles, because there were a good number not flying a flag, but now everyone who has a flag is flying it half-mast. It's strange to be driving by a McDonald's and see the flag at half mast. Sort of surreal.

[Heather Bea]

The thought of having to teach my kids to play dead is something I can't begin to even wrap my head around. I always remember feeling safe at school, and now with my kids starting school soon I would like to feel the same way. I know we can't keep them in a little cocoon of safety, but sometimes you don't even want to let them leave the house.

Just thinking about all of those families who lost their loved ones makes me want to weep.

[Mary Tsao]

Thanks for the links.

My problems are trivial. Tragedies like this one prove that.

[Beth]

My daughter has been practicing "code red" drills since kindergarten. Code red is "when a bad guy comes and we have to lock the door and hide under the tables where he can't see us." I wonder if the school includes "playing dead" in the routine? The whole concept is so so so very sad.