Dear MBU Spring 2018 Student Teachers,
I’m sure the news of yesterday’s school shooting in Florida left you feeling numb and shattered. Every time these events transpire, I am distraught. They happen far too often, and they are painful. Please know how important your role is as a teacher and as a future teacher. Please do not be discouraged from the profession. Please do be angry, do be sad, do question how something so tragic could happen. But then remember that you are entering the most important profession in the world. You are going to have students in your classes who are questioning their own safety and security. Reassure them. Be strong. Be confident. Whether they are in kindergarten or high school, these youth are in your care, and they are looking up to you and are following your lead. It is okay for you to show empathy and sadness, but you also need to be reassuring. It is our job as educators to let our children know they are safe in our care; that we are prepared for the unthinkable, and that we have faith in our community leaders and in our law enforcement, and that we believe we are safe. It is hard to say that and harder to believe that when these things happen, but we must. It is our responsibility to convey a sense of security and calm even in the face of recent events.
I’m sure you do not know this about me, but I student taught during Columbine. I was teaching social studies at Heritage High School in Newport News. Nobody had cell phones. An announcement was made for all teachers to turn on the TV’s. I watched the news coverage with my class of students, and we sat, mostly in silence. Some cried. We were shocked at what we were seeing. Before Columbine, schools didn’t really have School Resource Officers. We didn’t have security. No locked doors. We certainly didn’t have active shooter drills or lock-down drills.
On the way back to my dorm that afternoon, I questioned my choice of going into teaching. By the time I got back to my dorm and had a good cry, I knew teaching was exactly the right path for me. I had more confidence and strength in my knowledge that teachers have the power to make a difference in children, families, and communities.
Please know that you make a difference and you will continue to. Please be strong for your students. Please be outraged that this happens in our country.
By Dr. Rachel Potter, Dean of the College of Education