From the
minute I heard the news about the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary school in
Newtown, CT, I could not stop thinking about it. Numb and in disbelief and then
reality set in for I was an elementary school teacher—a fact which made this
evil seem even closer to me. It could have happened at my school. It could have
been my class or other students. But thank God, it wasn’t. But for those little
babies to have died in such a way is unthinkable to anyone. The principal,
counselor and other teachers that lost their lives were heroes. And none of
them had a chance for there is no chance when someone is wielding an assault
gun. None.
I have
had prior students that were documented over and over due to their violent
behavior and some who were sullen were also documented by me. Yes, the principal
knew about them and meetings were held to discuss this abnormal behavior and
plans were laid out for courses of action. Were the parents notified? Yes but
did most show up for the meetings? No or if they did, they were nonchalant
about their children’s behavior. I followed these students as they progressed
through my school and into middle school. Some changed but for the most part,
their behavior only intensified into the danger zone. Again, teachers and
administrators documented this behavior on permanent record cards and other
mandated school documents.
Lost
track of some of these students who by the way were all males—odd but true. Six
of them turned out to be imprisoned. Did I know that would happen? Yes as did
the teachers before and after me who had them predicted their fate which came
true, sadly. And sadly, why weren't these students' permanent record cards checked yearly for intensifying violent behavior or that which was out of the norm? Principals and teachers checked them but any criminal sector of society cannot for these students are considered minors and it's illegal to look at these record cards. It is time for the privacy act towards these documents be changed for lives could be saved. That is out of my control: The law needs changed toward this and now. Perhaps you are not aware of this privacy act but I urge you to think about the consequences of it and having it changed. Only those in the federal government can act on changing the privacy act re students' permanent record cards.
I want to
say that if you have a child that is misbehaving out of the norm, please see it
as a big red flag. Getting help for him or her is nothing to be ashamed of but
rather an act of helping them survive and cope in today’s world. My own sons
went to the school where I taught and I told every teacher that they had to
please let me know if anything irregular came up: I wanted to know. Yes, many kids change for the better with help and vigil. But others fall through the cracks and become more violent. The students I had that became imprisoned had major documented accounts on their permanent record cards.
There is
no undo button on what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary last Friday. It was
the most heinous and evil act ever and I grieve over those that lost their
lives as do you. A normal mind does not premeditate such horror or act it out. I weep for the little lives lost as well as the adult ones.
May God
have mercy on the souls that perished that day. I will never forget it nor will
you. Keep your children to your heart, tell them that you love them and hope
that this horror is never repeated.
Sherry
Hill
