Explosions at Boston Marathon...

We addressed Sandy Hook in a vague, prepared statement. The nature of school shootings carry very different notions and it is up to the parents to decide what their children hear. Elementary students often misinterpret information and it creates even bigger issues. I can't control what is said on the playground or lunchroom, but I can control my classroom environment. I teach 8/9 year olds ( you know, Pirate's peer level); they can actually have mature conversation about these things, but I will not be the one to open these discussions. The last thing I need is Sally's* hyper protective mom complaining that I created a fear or nightmare for her child. As I see it my job is reading writing math and science. Not parenting choices like discussing world politics. I teach third grade. Developmentally, these kids are very 'me' focused, and events at a distance are not necessarily real to them; I don't need to open that door. There are plenty of things that take priority over discussing this sort of event.

I'm sure I'll have an email in the morning about how to handle the topic, but if a student brings it up I will say that terrible things happen in the world sometimes, but its how we respond and react that matters. My focus will be on those who leapt to action to assist those in need.

Our school district had a school that serves our poorest population of students burn to the ground in January. We took in three classes of students to our building, as did other schools in the area. That's a much bigger story and reality for my students. Something that happened in Boston pales in comparison, from their perspective. I, of course, see an act of terror in a very different light than an accidental fire; I include this to put it in perspective of the third grade point of view.

In short, they're kids. No need to rush their education on terrorism. They have lifetimes to learn about all the evil around them. Lockdown/intruder drills are scary enough for them.
 
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Schools "should" let each teacher handle it so that they can communicate what is going on, to the grades they teach, in an age appropriate way.

Not to pick a fight, but, please. Tell me the age appropriate way to tell k-3rd grade kids that some guy walked into a school and murdered 24 kids in cold blood. Now, tell me how to do it so parents aren't asking for my head on a plate for exposing their child to inappropriate (in their opinion) conversation.


Didn't think so.

@pirate- my school administration is proactive. I will be surprised if there is no direction or at the very least suggestion about this topic tomorrow before students arrive. If they don't I can handle it if it comes up, but probably won't introduce the topic.
 
My focus will be on those who leapt to action to assist those in need = beautiful. Thank you, Lomad.
 
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I did, with k-4, with 9/11. "Bad people" "hurt" "good people" - at fourth grade you can insert a little more about how "weapons" and that people "died" -since they have a concept of it.
 
I did, with k-4, with 9/11. "Bad people" "hurt" "good people" - at fourth grade you can insert a little more about how "weapons" and that people "died" -since they have a concept of it.

Not necessary. Unless they were "part of" 911.
 
90% of students will know about it tomorrow - and I personally don't like ignoring questions. If they are asking, then their parent's probably did not talk to them about it.
 
90% of students will know about it tomorrow - and I personally don't like ignoring questions. If they are asking, then their parent's probably did not talk to them about it.

Are you talking about young children or tweens, teens?
 
Are you talking about young children or tweens, teens?

From kindergarten on up. It's not "necessary" to talk about it. But they are going to ask. Age appropriate information is better than ignoring it. Especially since some parents will try (and fail) to hide the information from them. They will have heard about it from friends at the very least. Leaving a kids thoughts unanswered, is far worse on them, then giving them age appropriate information. In absence of information, they will probably think up even scarier answers.
 
Besides, is history no longer taught in school? As far as I know, it starts as early as kindergarten/1st grade. What do they say about Europeans and Native Americans? I am "fairly" certain they know that Europeans and Native Americans killed each other. Or perhaps that's not PC enough any more?
 
My kids wouldn't ask about it, Jen. They wouldn't know to ask about it. If I had not told my 10 year old, he would not have known about it. Therefore, it's unnecessary. But. As a parent, I am always keen to ask my kids how their day went and guide them accordingly. If they have a problem, they tell me about it. We are very open in my family. :)
 
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I am actually on TJ's side on this, but TJ, you do realize your kids talk to other kids, who's parents may have told them about it, and then that information may get twisted and misinformation is spread, sometimes scarier and worse than reality. I do agree that it is up to the parent to talk to their kids, but to live in denial that kids dont hear stuff just because you didn't tell them about it isn't good either. Kids do hear things from other kids.
 
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Not as often as you think, Nick. Not at this age. Again, as a parent, I am always keen to ask my kids how their day went and guide them accordingly. If they have a problem, they tell me about it.

I've been working my ass off on IBRD these past, well, many days, so much work behind the scenes to do with May 5 coming up so quickly, so I am up late...again. We can go around and around and around about this, but it's ultimately up to me to decide how to handle my children for any situation that arises, and I'm pretty sure you have a good idea how that's going to go. Good night.
 
Absolutely horrific scenes, all over the news here last night as well. My daughter saw it on the morning news and I limited it to the facts. Someone set off a bomb to try and kill people, I don't know why they did it, or who they are. If she has any more questions I'll try and answer them as best I can.

The speculation here is that it is some kind of domestic terrorism, rather than an Al Quaeda inspired or other group with that kind of knowledge, but also speculation as to what it means for London on Sunday. Personally I think it has no impact in that respect, but news organisations need to fill the air time.

I also see that a lot of my friends and acquaitances on facebook who are running in London are talking about how they can pay their respects to the victims.
 
Sad thing is, a good number of kids would see this and say, "only 3 died?" because they sit in front of their Warcraft games killing and blowing up people for hours every day, they see it on every TV show mom and dad are watching, they see it in the movies. They are desensitized to these tragedies.
 
I teach high school, the kids know about it before I do. I usually try to limit my discussions, but during 911 I had a student whose father was a worker in the towers. Sometimes with this age group the world intrudes and you have no option but to acknowledge events. I'm ready to sign back up. Wish the military would take an old guy.
 
They are sensitized to these tragedies.
I think you mean they are DE-sensitized to these tragedies. It's sad, but I don't watch the news because I don't believe they way the news is portrayed is good. You know everyone that watches those videos from yesterday is watching people getting killed? People sit and watch that crap multiple upon multiple times a day. Is it a freak show or something? Do people like watching people die? Do people even realize or think about that's what their watching, just because they may not see the bodies? What about the blood soaked streets they keep showing over and over and over again? What about all the wounded they keep showing video of that are being wheeled out of there or people are carrying or helping carrying? Media goes way to far in what they can show and I think they are a bigger culprit for acts of yesterday or at Newtown or the Colorado theater shootings. The parents or grandparents get sucked into watching all this gory footage and don't even realize/or care that their children are right there watching this. My wife likes watching the news, but I don't allow the news on in our house when the children are here. Media shows dead from the war pretty frequently, but most people seem to be so desensitized to it that they don't even bat an eyelash at what they just saw. That's absolutely appalling to me. It's one thing to REPORT the news, it's something totally different to show all these gory photos and video.
 
Not as often as you think, Nick. Not at this age. Again, as a parent, I am always keen to ask my kids how their day went and guide them accordingly. If they have a problem, they tell me about it.

I've been working my ass off on IBRD these past, well, many days, so much work behind the scenes to do with May 5 coming up so quickly, so I am up late...again. We can go around and around and around about this, but it's ultimately up to me to decide how to handle my children for any situation that arises, and I'm pretty sure you have a good idea how that's going to go. Good night.
TJ, I agree like I said in my earlier post that I agree it should be up to the parent. Remember when 9/11 happened? My nearly 3 yr old daughter at the time came home from daycare asking me about it a few days later. She heard it from other kids. Kids talk, unfortunately. Sometimes they also don't say anything to the parent that they heard about it because they think they've got all the right information. I'm not saying anything specific about your kids, but kids do hear things even if we think they haven't. Anyhow, we both agree that it should be up to the parents what they tell their kids so no need to dwell on this anymore because in essence we are agreeing with each other, just disagreeing about kids hearing things even if they don't mention hearing it to their parents.
 
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