Following traumatic events such as the mass shooting that took place on February 14th at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, it can be difficult to find the words to comfort students when the reality is so frightening. Most of us struggle to make sense of such senseless acts of violence.
I want to answer some questions that we have received over the past two weeks; but first, I want to express my profound appreciation for the faculty and staff in our schools. When students enter a classroom worried about world events, teachers must respond in the moment with a combination of reassurance and honesty. One of the things that makes these spontaneous conversations so poignant is that teachers are trained to respond to situations that would have been unimaginable even ten years ago.
We owe our educators and school staff a debt of gratitude for the role they play in maintaining student safety.
How are schools prepared to talk with students about the shooting?
In the younger grades, many children may be completely unaware of this tragedy--while others may have seen news reports or heard something in passing that they are struggling to understand. While our teachers would not bring up such news with our youngest students, sometimes a class discussion will take place when a student reports something they learned at home or in the community. Such situations are handled delicately and counselors are available to offer additional support and consultation.
As students get older, their independent exposure to media means that teachers may bring up the events as a topic for discussion at the Upper School or High School levels. In all instances, educators will seek to follow the lead of the students by responding in developmentally appropriate ways.
Among many resources on this topic comes from the National Association of School Psychologists:
Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers.
Teachers and parents/caregivers may also find it helpful to read
Showing Up Strong for Yourself and Your Students in the Aftermath of Violence from Teaching Tolerance.
How does CPS Protect the Safety & Security of Faculty & Students?
Whenever there is an event of this nature, CPS undertakes a full review of three areas of safety & security:
Facilities, Safety Plans, and
Student Support Plans. Immediately following the news from Florida, CPS launched an updated review of all safety procedures in collaboration with the City Manager, Cambridge Police, and Public Health Department.
CPS safety and security personnel work closely with Cambridge Police to respond to any security concern inside schools or out in the neighborhood. Schools have electronic door locks designed to control who may enter the building. Staff members have ID Badges and our
Visitor Procedure mandates that guests (including parents/caregivers) check in at the main office to receive a visitor badge and enter the building. In addition to mandatory evacuation (fire) drills and lockdown drills, administrators receive ongoing training--most recently an Armed Intruder Training held in fall 2017.
A unique feature of our approach in Cambridge is that we view violence prevention holistically, in terms of responding to young people and families who may be in crisis. Through the
Safety Net Collaborative, personnel from human services, public health, public schools, family services and the police department work as a team to identify students and families in need of help before they reach a breaking point.
Will there be protests or walk-outs?
I know that many in the community feel a strong desire to take action and stand against violence in our schools. We respect the right of all individuals to exercise their free speech and many school communities are engaging in discussion about how to handle the choices of students or faculty who may wish to participate in peaceful demonstrations over the coming months.
CPS will neither promote nor punish these actions. Principals and administrators have been asked to maintain an open door policy for any students or staff members who wish to participate in these types of actions. The safety of our students is our top priority, and we will ensure that supervision remains in place. We encourage staff members and parents/caregivers to speak with your Principal if you have any questions.
While CPS can not endorse any political view, it is inspiring to witness the flourishing of student leadership across the country and here in our community. The young people of Cambridge are demonstrating what respectful and safe political engagement looks like. In this and so many other ways, they make us proud.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information.