MAEC Statement on the School Shooting in Uvalde, TX
May 26, 2022
This week, the entire country was shocked and horrified to learn of the killing of 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde, TX, just ten days after another mass shooting in Buffalo, NY. There are no words to fully describe this experience. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and their communities in Uvalde.
It’s frightening that the frequency of children and communities being killed like this seems almost commonplace. We cannot and do not accept this. All students and families deserve to feel safe when going to school, the grocery store, or houses of worship. To do nothing while tragedy repeats itself, again and again, is the biggest crime. Our work at MAEC focuses on developing systems that can help students learn and achieve at high levels. Students can’t do that if they aren’t safe and alive.
It’s understandably hard to navigate through grief, anger, horror, and sadness. Please take time for yourself to process, heal, and find support. This is where community and equity matter most: lean on each other for care and safety, heal together, and rebuild as a community.
Resources for promoting safe schools and conversations with children
15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence gives resources in numerous languages, considerations, and approaches when talking to children about violence, and other important steps. From Colorín Colorado.
Discussing Racist Violence With Students: 4 Best Practices highlights creating safe spaces, recognizing the experiences of students of color, how to approach conversations, and making a difference. From Education Week.
Helping Youth After Community Trauma: Tips for Educators lists common reactions educators might see in the students with whom they work and suggestions on how they may help after community trauma. From The National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
Managing Mental Wellness: Tools for Yourself, Your Students, and Your Classroom offers strategies to manage mental wellness in the context of school and personally, and it gives methods for teachers to assist students and families with learning and well-being. From MAEC.
Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers identifies measures and suggestions on how parents and teachers can address violence with students. From the National Association of School Psychologists.
Tips for administrators about responding to school violence features a list of measures and suggestions on what to say to students. From the National Association of School Psychologists.
