Dear Students,
Recently, you witnessed a troubling event: children your age fleeing their school, hands on their heads, while others were capturing distressing images and videos from a classroom eerily similar to yours, where they were locked down. Later, you learned that 17 individuals lost their lives that day. They were killed in a school much like yours—a place where you should feel secure. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time you’ve encountered such tragedies.
Just after that incident, you entered my classroom visibly shaken, asking what I would do if a gunman were to enter our building. You needed reassurance that I had a plan in place to keep you safe. In that moment, I assured you that I did; I had devised a detailed strategy to guide you to safety, fully aware that I might need to protect you with my own body. Like many educators, I would stand between you and danger if it ever came to that.
As months unfold, I understand that you will need constant reassurance. Every time the fire alarm sounds, I know your heart will race. Loud noises will make you flinch, and lockdown drills might fill you with anxiety—anxiety you might not feel comfortable sharing.
It pains me to say that this situation is utterly unfair to you. You shouldn’t feel fear while seated in my classroom, nor should you have to worry about your safety when the fire alarm rings. The thought of whether you will return home to your parents alive should not cross your mind. This reality is unacceptable, and we, the adults, have let you down. We have failed to provide you with a safe educational environment, and we have not taken decisive actions even after witnessing your peers being gunned down repeatedly in their schools.
Every day that passes without us taking action to restrict access to firearms for those who should not have them is a day we fail you. We are repeatedly told that “now is not the time” to discuss gun control by those who prioritize guns over lives. Yet, you are aware that there is a school shooting occurring more than once a week in our nation. If we cannot discuss this issue now, when will we? You wonder why no one is taking action, and I struggle to find a logical response that justifies why some value their Constitutional Rights over your very lives.
You have voiced your concerns, and I hear you. You question how many lives must be lost before we collectively awaken and act. The truth is, I don’t have an answer.
So here’s my promise to you: I will do everything within my power to ensure your safety. When I witness bullying, I will intervene, hoping to prevent that individual from causing harm in the future. If you express concerns about someone being unsafe or in distress, I will listen and take action. I will reassure you time and time again that I am committed to protecting you, regardless of the circumstances.
I care deeply for each one of you. I wish I could guarantee that the latest tragedy would spur change, that those influenced by the gun industry would prioritize your lives over profits. Sadly, I cannot make that promise. What I can assure you is that I love you all, and you deserve so much better than this.
We all deserve a safer world.
—Ms. Carter
In summary, this heartfelt message underscores the urgency for action regarding gun control and the profound commitment of educators to protect their students. It highlights the emotional toll that such violence takes on young individuals and the necessity for adults to prioritize their safety and well-being.