Teachers are Heroes

This week I should be writing about how to teach about religious diversity and the richness that Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwaanza bring to American culture. I should be writings about tips and New Years resolutions for teachers to make 2013 a better teaching year. Or I should be writing about how high school economics and civics classes can discuss,debate and analyze “the fiscal cliff” issue.

But I cannot write about any of these topics- at least not today. Twenty first graders in Newtown, Connecticut are dead as are six adults, including  teachers, principal and a school psychologist.

These children loved school and loved their teachers. They were excited about the upcoming Christmas holidays. Now instead of talking about Santa Clause and presents, family visits and holiday trips, we are talking about funerals, school safety and gun control.

The NRA refused to appear on any of the Sunday news talk shows but they will probably produce the tired mantra that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.”  I chatted with a friend of mine, an attorney from Canada, who both explained why gun control has been so successful in the land of our northern neighbors. He chided his American colleagues who have interpreted the Second Amendment to include gun ownership for reasons other than national defense.

What I want to write about today is that teachers are heroes, not just on Friday, but every day. Few people would ever believe that teaching is a dangerous job? Every day you step into a classroom you are a hero to your students. Even on your worst day as a teacher you are your students’ bets hope.  Teachers at the Sandy Hook Elementary School were heroes on Friday- doing what they always do- looking out for the safety and welfare of their students. Schools were always thought to be a safe place for students- a warm and nurturing environment in an often cold and indifferent world. We need to regain that safety. The sign  in fron of the school said "visitors welcome." We need to protect that notion.

May the souls of the children and their teachers who perished last week rise high in Heaven and may their memories be a blessing to those that loved them.

c. 2012 J. Margolis