People don’t usually think of teachers as first responders, but that is exactly what they are. Whether it is physical assault, social aggression, emotional trauma or cognitive battering, educators are there to protect and defend our nation’s children each day.

Many thanks to the Sandy Hook administrators, faculty and staff who so clearly demonstrated how committed educators are to serving as parentis in loco, selflessly putting the needs, safety and precious lives of children before their own.

Bless them, the children, and all of the families affected by such senseless tragedy.

I am really proud of the teachers at that school. Parents and authorities are saying that their quick thinking and bravery saved other students who may have been killed as well.

I really am amazed how inadequate our support systems are, especially for our “troubled” students. The guidance counselor would “fit my students” into their schedule. Sometimes that was just a few times a month. And these are children who needed professional help. We can spend money on tests, but people like Bloomberg are threatening to fire guidance counselors when most schools need more than one. Currently many GC and psychologists are working on split sessions in more than one school. That is just so wrong.

I see what my own niece is going through with her son, and despite all her pleas, all he ever got was out-patient services. It wasn’t until he was 17 that he was hospitalized, but it was too late. They let him out after a few months and nothing changed. It was also my niece who fought the high school administrators and district to get teachers trained on his condition. They were finally trained, and many teachers told her it helped. Now he is 18 and considered an adult. And my niece has very little recourse. He now has more rights due to his age than his condition. He feels hopeless and considers himself a loser. It’s really sad. And I pray he never, ever feels so hopeless or angry that he will take his frustration out on others.

btw, not all states have laws where people have to be vetted before they can buy a gun. In many states you can pick up a gun at the same place you just bought household appliances and toys.

Here is Dawn dressed up as the Sandy Hook Book Fairy reading to the kids. Let’s believe they are all reading together in heaven, safe and protected.

https://mobile.twitter.com/DHochsprung/status/269538800085118977/photo/1

From a teacher:

I am sickened over this, as a mom, as an educator. How often do we see young children in our classrooms who need serious help and can’t find the resources to help them because of severe budget cuts? My school shares a guidance counselor with 2 other schools. She is awesome and does her best, but let’s be realistic. In this current day and age children are exposed to all kinds of violence. Many children are broken by fifth grade, the grade I teach, and it’s so frustrating not to be able to do anything, but hug them, reach out to the family and be there for them. At that point, testing is a non-issue. My prayers go out to all involved. I just tell myself there are 20 more angels in heaven looking down on us. Maybe they will be able to help us.

From a reader:

Unfortunately, nothing is going to change within our society due to this terrible tragedy. The people of power control our society and have no need to change the class system that benefits them in all ways. It is not just about gun control, it is really about the maintenance of the societal status quo. The rich & powerful will maintain that which benefits them the most. It remains all about money & power. God Bless the students & teachers and all of the members of the Newtown community.

From a reader:

Really? This is “education’s fault?” This is the “liberal’s” fault? This is the fault of all of us allowing society to lose its moral compass starting with the family structure. It is about our widening class system and people not caring about one another. This is not about what education does not do nor is it a liberal problem; it is a societal problem linked to lobbyists (NRA) and politics (big money & power!)

A reader comments:

Schools are buckling under, often contradictory, legislation created in response to challenges and tragedies. The problem is not that there aren’t enough metal detectors or mandatory lockdown drills. The problem also isn’t video games or films. The problem is that the mentally ill have easier access to handguns than to psych services.

From a teacher:

As these horrific events were unfolding, I spent the day teaching kindergarten and first grade music classes. We sang, we played games, we laughed together. The horror of this tragedy is that it could have happened anywhere in America. Our schools connect us, they nurture our children, they define our communities. So proud of the heroic actions of our teaching brothers and sisters in Newtown.

Jersey Jazzman salutes the heroic teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary School.

He bashes the teacher-bashers because they are bullies.

Would they have the courage to protect a room full of innocent babies?