Beyond the sadness over the terrible event at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, still unimaginable, there was something that stood out last week. America’s kids are smart! Really smart! They’re smarter than the school reformers who have said ugly things against them for years!
President Trump referred to public schools in his Inaugural Address as an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge.
Sitting with his crib notes at the White House, during his meeting about the shooting, with notes that had to remind him to say “I hear you,” I’d say that the claim our students are “deprived of knowledge” was totally debunked. The President could not face these students.
His education secretary, Betsy DeVos, has called public schools a “dead end.” She can no longer cling to that discouraging call either.
For thirty years the political and corporate mouthpieces who want to make money on public education have condemned American students for not doing as well as students in other countries on tests.
They have intentionally painted a bleak picture of our public schools and teachers, but especially the students themselves. They have done all this while de-funding schools, harshly over-testing students, treating teachers unprofessionally, ignoring well-informed parents, and turning their schools over to nonprofit and for-profit charters. All of this was done to make money on the backs of students.
Tell me you weren’t touched by the courage—the grace and eloquence these students displayed in the face of their grief. The way they stood in front of the cameras, representing themselves with an understanding far beyond their years, speaking with self-confidence, dignity, not to mention knowledge. They owned this issue, not because they wanted it, but because it was cast upon them through no fault of their own.
Yet they spoke more confidently about it than any politician ever has! Even if you disagree with these students, you must admit that they are capable.
Did you ever once, as you watched them, wonder what kind of SAT scores they got? Did you question how many AP classes they took? Did you doubt that students like this would be college and career ready?
It didn’t take long for College Board President and Common Core aficionado David Coleman, who is not an educator, to write a congratulatory letter that these students were the outstanding bunch we saw due to the AP classes he sells. It apparently seemed like a good time to him to promote his program. Just remember, this is the same Coleman who said to students as you grow up in this world you come to realize people don’t really give a s—t about what you feel or what you think.
But America does care, and they are listening! The thoughts and ideas of these students matter! Many believe these teens have turned the gun issue around. Many companies are ending their ties to the NRA. And, while one can argue it wasn’t enough, Gov. Rick Scott has changed his stance on guns.
Not only were the students well-informed, they were nice! When the crowd reacted negatively to Sen. Marco Rubio at the CNN special, it was a student who said give him a chance, who thanked him for the courage to show up and face them.
Last week was all about loss, yes. But it was also about the goodness and strength of America’s youth, their willingness to listen without backing down. America learned these young people are not just alright, they’re brilliant!
And lest it go unnoticed, we also saw that a public high school that gives its students the arts winds up able to cling to some kind of beauty in all that despair. MSD students put together a sensitive, beautiful song called “Shine,” and they performed it for us to reflect on their pain and ours. We heard poetry that brought us to tears from the students whose lives were cut short.
The students spoke in ways no one expected. Those who want to believe our youth are incapable were shocked! They claimed they were actors and set up by the media. We know this isn’t true. No CNN reporter could match what these students said!
Nowhere has school reform been more prevalent than Florida, where students have watched a punitive group of legislators push a choice agenda. Where young children have been denied recess, and third graders have unnecessarily been made to feel like failures.
Don’t forget how children with disabilities have been treated abysmally. How many schools lack counselors and school psychologists? What kind of special education is offered students with emotional and behavioral disabilities?
For all the naysayers who have embraced student failure language, and myth of huge proportions, for those corporate shills that slam teachers as not being effective enough, or who should be replaced by computers, it must have been shocking last week to see the stuff America’s youth are really made of. It is just sad it had to come about the way it did.
There will be some who will claim it is because MSD was a wealthier school with engaged parents. But by saying that, they show that funding does matter. That public schools that address the needs of the students turn out students who are brilliant.
But even with a decently funded school in the best of all communities, MSD still could not save 17 lives. In the end it was the adults who failed them. They failed them like they fail the children hurt by gang violence, or the victims of other shootings.
The smart students from MSD and around the country have a clear message concerning gun violence. Now, America must continue to listen to them. The debate must continue. This country owes them that.
It is about time these imposters or so called leaders were exposed by high schoolers from Parkland HS. I was so impressed with the whole bunch of them. They each exposed the Fla. GOP including the Governor for not doing their jobs and selling out to the NRA. These youngsters give me hope to change the current status of the USA. Watch out you old stupid white men your time is almost over. This includes the one professing arming teachers to save us from guns.
Thanks, Jim.
You still don’t get it. Guns do not kill people. People kill people. I agree, the adults dropped the ball. The sheriff, his staff, all the up the chain to the FBI. This kid had been “noticed” and ignored by those who could have stopped this. They all failed. However, what keeps getting ignored in all this horror, is the reason we as American citizens, via the Second Amendment, must keep our guns. Ultimately is is to protect us from an over-reaching government. The Founding Fathers put that protection in place to preserve our precious Democratic Republic from being taken over by our own government. It has happened elsewhere, If we surrender our right to bear arms, we surrender our freedom.
These children were articulate and passionate, and I applaud them for that. We need to protect our children and we also need the means to protect our freedom. We, the people have surrendered many freedoms over the last 50 years, by allowing what was supposed to be limited government to grow into an overpowering giant. Guns didn’t cause that either. People who want government to solve all their problems caused and are causing that. We, the people must take responsibility, and teach our children that they must also take responsibility for their own actions. That begins with a core family who will instill a moral background where our children can grow and thrive. Many of us have failed to do so.
It’s not the guns, folks. It’s us.
I would question whether the Second Amendment is about assault weapons. Let’s not lump all guns together. Furthermore, we need serious background checks that matter, and other reforms.
I do agree that it sounds like some warning signs were missed.
As far as mental health, look at my past blog posts. Just a few days ago I wrote about it. I’ve written about the need for smaller class sizes, counselors, and special ed. repeatedly. I think it is govt. de-regulation that hurts us. For example, many fear Ed. Secretary Betsy DeVos will get rid of special education protections. That will mean many students including those with behavioral and emotional problems will not get served.
But while we may disagree, it is important to keep the dialogue open on this serious matter. So your comments are welcome here.
“Guns do not kill people. People kill people.” Exactly why we need to keep these types of guns out of people’s hands. I’m not looking to take away the second amendment and I’m not disagreeing that core family values are needed. But the types of weapons that are being used in these mass attacks have no place in our general society. It’s not the only answer, but it’s a start.
Thank you, Annette. Well said.
Jean Martin, ok bring back the muskets get rid of the AR15s, designed for a little more killing use muskets for your 2nd Amendment argument. We have far far too too many guns period. If this kid didn’t have access to the purchasing of the AR15 these 17 youngsters might be alive. Mistakes were made many granted which most of us call human. We need more prevention or deterrents to stop this senseless killing. We need to surrender our rights to bear arms to save our youngsters freedom for the 17 whose life, liberty and the pursuit of their happiness was taken. 17 lives are gone thanks to the NRA and people who think like you. You are plain wrong Jean.
Thanks for this again, Nancy. I watched and listened last week to the amazing young people who spoke out in a manner, as you point out no politician could, against the status quo. It was a lesson to all who would aspire to speak for them and lead them into the future – LISTEN and THINK about how best to represent their needs, hopes and aspirations for a better life.
In what you write, there is a message, too, for those who would reform education – alongside parenting, education is the single most important endeavour any nation may engage in to transform or nurture the lives, hopes and dreams of its young people.
It is my personal hope that the youth of America will succeed in enlightening their leaders, most notably in the White House. Guns do not belong in schools. Teachers are not seasoned combatants. In a healthy democracy, the ballot box, rather than violent uprising is the means by which governments should be held to account or changed.
Keep up your good work.
Thank you so much, John. I do appreciate your good comments. I cannot imagine schools with armed teachers. I share your hope.
Thank you Nancy Bailey for this awesome acknowledgement for our children and our schools in America. It couldn’t have been said better.