Brave or Crazy

People who’ve never spent time in the central city sometimes say I’m brave or crazy working where I do—it’s “so dangerous” I’m told. I’ve known students expelled for bringing weapons to school, handguns secreted in their pockets or backpacks. I’ve broken up fights, though no more–I’m getting too old to think I can intervene in that physical business. I’ve been called vile names by students who refuse therapy or straight up walk out of my classroom. I’ve been named in a lawsuit in federal court by an irate parent (currently awaiting trial for sex crimes, that guy–oh, karma, how I love you, though I sure hate that a young man’s life was impacted), and parents have screamed in my face, demanding my license.

But those are not my everyday experiences.

Neither are school shootings everyday experiences. But wait. The New York Times reported today that Since Sandy Hook in 2012, there have been 239 school shootings nationwide. 438 people have been shot, and 138 of those shot were killed. At school. OK, so not every day. . .

You know what’s brave in 2018? Sending your children to school on a random Wednesday. Just ask any one of the parents in Parkland, Florida. You know what’s crazy? Thinking that school violence is a phenomenon limited to institutions in the “inner city” and that it could never happen to your child. You know what’s dangerous? Assault rifles.

No parent should ever have to fear for their sons and daughters when they kiss them goodbye in the morning.

Holy crap, for the first time in over a year, I’m in agreement with words coming from the highest office in the land, twenty of them anyway.

But what’s going to be done about it? I mean, besides continuing to “send out thoughts and prayers” obviously.