6 votes

Why do kindergarteners need a song about school shootings?

7 comments

  1. [2]
    mat
    Link
    I was trying to think last night about how I'd react if I were the teacher creating that poster. Obviously it would take me a few tries to write it without my tears ruining the ink, but what an...

    I was trying to think last night about how I'd react if I were the teacher creating that poster. Obviously it would take me a few tries to write it without my tears ruining the ink, but what an awful situation to be in. My first thought was that I'd be getting out of teaching because holy shit I did not go into the profession to deal with this kind of thing - but then it occurred to me that the only thing worse than doing your job and teaching kids how to hide from live gunfire would be not doing so.

    6 votes
    1. Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      It is a bit of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. :(

      It is a bit of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. :(

      1 vote
  2. [2]
    Algernon_Asimov
    Link
    As an Australian, I simply can't grasp these problems about gun control and school shootings in America. As much as I've read about it, and conversed/debated/argued on the internet with Americans...

    As an Australian, I simply can't grasp these problems about gun control and school shootings in America. As much as I've read about it, and conversed/debated/argued on the internet with Americans in favour of gun control and against gun control, it's all just intellectual to me. I can't feel it in my gut. I simply don't understand why Americans are so connected to their guns when there's obviously such a high risk involved. The solution seems obvious to me, but I'm just an outsider with no lived experience of the American culture.

    4 votes
    1. Silbern
      Link Parent
      Most Americans don't. Recent polls show nearly 70% of Americans want stricter laws on guns, and only 4% support actively loosening. The problem we have is that those 4% are very motivated; they...

      Most Americans don't. Recent polls show nearly 70% of Americans want stricter laws on guns, and only 4% support actively loosening. The problem we have is that those 4% are very motivated; they will show up to any election if this even remotely is affected, they are very vocal in publishing videos and comments online, and they often live in rural areas where their votes are significantly more influential. The problem is that most Americans take either a "my vote doesn't matter" or "it'll sort itself out" or "both parties are the same" and so forfeit by default. If people aren't willing to represent themselves, then unfortunately, I can't really find fault why the gun lobby is winning. As much as I dislike the gun lobby, I'm even more fed up with how apathetic most Americans are. You'd think your children's safety would be worth an afternoon to mail in a ballot :/

      And to help explain why the gun supporters believe in it so strongly, a common spin today is because they believe that teachers and other people aren't properly armed, and that if gun laws were looser, the increase in weapons would make a school shooting a fatal mistake, sort of like nuclear and mutually assured destruction. Even if you point out that for example school shooters almost always die or are arrested anyways, self defense is a firm cultural belief in rural America, and people (myself included sometimes being totally honest) can be very good at ignoring or circumventing logical evidence if it contradicts our deeply held beliefs.

      5 votes
  3. rib
    Link
    Because the media keep doing the exact opposite of what needs to be done, they make these people infamous which in turn entices more school shootings as psychologist will tell you.

    Because the media keep doing the exact opposite of what needs to be done, they make these people infamous which in turn entices more school shootings as psychologist will tell you.

    3 votes
  4. moredhel
    Link
    This was pretty scary to read. It reminds me of Ring a Ring a Roses from my childhood which I was brought up to associate with the Black Plague (having read up on it a little, I now see this isn't...

    This was pretty scary to read. It reminds me of Ring a Ring a Roses from my childhood which I was brought up to associate with the Black Plague (having read up on it a little, I now see this isn't actually true).

    America has some really unique problems that form their culture, and it is an interesting debate about people's right to their culture. One which is discussed in regard to Charity/Mission work in developing countries more commonly.

    I sympathise with the gratuitous loss of life, but I do also see why people are so keen not to change what is effectively their culture

    3 votes
  5. Catt
    Link
    This is just so sad. I know it's not the same, but it reminds me of a photo in the middle east I think, of a 5ish year old girl hold up her hands because she mistook the photographer's camera for...

    This is just so sad. I know it's not the same, but it reminds me of a photo in the middle east I think, of a 5ish year old girl hold up her hands because she mistook the photographer's camera for a gun. You just don't think, a school in a first world country, not in a war zone, would need this.

    3 votes