Dear Sharpsville
Educational Community:
Tragedy and school
violence once again have struck the very core of our educational world. For the eighteenth time this calendar year,
schools have not only experienced but have had to endure the nightmare of
school violence. As a result of these
tragedies, there is a call for a national student walkout on Wednesday, March
14th from 10:00 – 10:17 AM. This
is a voluntarily movement. No one is
being forced or mandated to participate. I would hope that before forming an opinion on the matter, one takes the
opportunity to become knowledgeable on the true mission of the event and not
allow their own personal views to taint the overall purpose of the event.
The focus on this event
is twofold. First and foremost, school
violence has to be addressed and brought to an end. How many more events like Columbine, Chardon,
Sandy Hook, and Stoneman Douglas need to take place before people seek
change? The second component is to remember
the victims of the Parkland shooting and to express solidarity with their peers
across Pennsylvania and the nation regarding safety in our nation’s
schools.
We are at a crossroads
not only in education but as a nation as well. We cannot allow this event to divide and alienate us as a community but
rather rally to finally put school safety in the forefront. Not many true teachable moments present
themselves. This truly can be an
excellent opportunity for our students to learn from real life events.
March 14th is not a Second Amendment issue, an anti-President Trump issue, a political firestorm, or an anti-gun issue. The issue is the safety of our schools. The notion that it is okay for people to shoot up our schools must stop. What exactly has changed from Columbine to Parkland? That is the question that our students have in regards to school safety. Kids need to and must feel safe in our schools. There is an old adage that it takes a village to educate a child. It will also take that very same village to protect that very same child.
It is time to truly
listen to our students. Maybe their
voice can be the spark that will generate change that will help make our
schools safe. Is that bad? Should kids just be quiet? Is their voice not important? These are the questions that we need to
answer. We as the adult role models must
foster the notion that our kids’ safety is paramount and that we all here to
listen and assist them in their endeavors to promote both unity and school
safety in our communities across this great nation.
I urge you to please feel
free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Education and knowledge are the keys to
successfully help our students navigate these trying moments that currently are
present in our society. Together we can
seek and make change.
Yours in education,
John Vannoy