Talking to children about mass shootings

​April 20 marks the twentieth anniversary of Columbine. It says a lot that the name of a secondary school has become synonymous with mass shooting. After all, schools should be places of learning, not trauma. So far in 2019, there have been 32 instances of gunfire on school campuses. And, there have been tens of thousands of drills conducted to prepare for a mass shooting, a scenario that should be unthinkable in our countries schools. 

While drills are part of our school routine and discussions about school safety are commonplace, the idea of preparing for a mass shooting is disturbing for students and educators alike. Several years ago, NBC published an article about strategies for discussing school violence with children. These strategies are good for parents, but are even more relevant to educators since we are the ones helping conduct drills and disseminating safety reminders to our students. It is good to keep in mind that while students might seem OK, these discussions could be an upsetting source of anxiety. 

Check out this article & keep in mind, you don't need to wait for students to bring up these concerns before you address them.  It is also worth mentioning that this article came out in 2015, and is still applicable today. Stories that are relevant regardless of season or year are called "Everygreen." It says a lot that an article about school shootings has become "Everygreen." Today reran it today with an editor's note about the anniversary of Columbine. 

Here it is: 

How to talk about school shootings: An age-by-age guide

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