Teacher Tired…Another School Shooting Tired
The quote, “There’s no tired like teacher tired,” refers to the overwhelming exhaustion of educators as they try to balance lesson planning, new learning initiatives, classroom management, and parent communication, all the while trying to meet the needs of each and every student.
The teacher tired memes change with the seasons:
Beginning of the year teacher tired.
End of the year teacher tired.
Christmas break teacher tired.
Endless state testing teacher tired.
But the tired that teachers should never have been expected to experience is, “Another school shooting teacher tired.”
Just writing those words brings on the tears, heartbreak, and gut-wrenching stomachache that I know millions of teachers are experiencing tonight. Teachers that are lying awake, turning over and over in their minds what those children at Annunciation Catholic School in Minnesota must have experienced yesterday. The sorrow for yet another school, another group of students, teachers, and parents who are experiencing their worst nightmare. A nightmare that never should have happened. Not only was it another school shooting, but it happened at the place where those babies should have been protected the most, at their first school Mass of the year.
The words, “another school shooting” hurt enough. But now add to it, “The shooter opened fire through the windows of a church”, “We hid under the pew”, and “We were praying and praying!” You just can’t comprehend this senseless act of violence against innocent children. Children who were in church.
It’s the beginning of a new school year, so teachers, staff, and students are practicing their Safety Drills. At our school this week, we’ve practiced our fire drill and tornado drill. Tomorrow is supposed to be our lockdown drill. My stomach already hurts with the thought of even going through the motions of ushering my students into our “safe” zone in the classroom. Of making sure the door is locked and secured with a chair, that the lights are off, and the children absolutely still and silent. That I’ll reassure them that it is just a drill. That I’ll smile at them so they know it’s ok. All the while praying that we never ever have to be in that “safe” zone for real.
Yes, we’ll practice that drill tomorrow, because our children need to know how to hide from an intruder. How to be safe, at a place where they should already be safe. To know that their teachers will do everything in their powers to keep them safe at school.
Next week, when we go to Mass, their little faces will turn to the teachers again looking for that reassurance of safety. Looking for safety in a sacred place where they have always been told they are safe and loved. They’ll see the extra protection at a place that should not need it. They’ll know to hide under those pews that should only be used for worship. They’ll see their teachers’ smiles and nods of reassurance. Hopefully it will make them feel safe so they can celebrate Mass, sing, and pray. Because prayer may be the best answer to “another school shooting tired.”
Our government leaders and politicians will throw around phrases such as tragic violence and unspeakable acts of evil. Then they’ll mention gun control and mental health over the next few days and weeks. But history shows that nothing much changes after each school shooting. It's in the forefront of everyone’s thoughts, on the headlines of the news, and yet with time it fades. Until here we are again with “another school shooting.”
If we can’t call on our leaders to fix the problem, maybe we should be calling on God. Calling on Him to give comfort to all those affected by these school shootings. Calling on Him to help our leaders find solutions to end this violence. Calling on Him to help us keep our children safe.
So tonight, I’ll pray. I’ll pray to God to send comfort, love, and peace to the Annunciation School and Church Community in Minneapolis. I’ll pray to St. Michael the Archangel to protect and defend us. I’ll pray the Memorare to invoke the intercessions of our Blessed Virgin Mary to answer our prayers, and I’ll pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to protect us in the midst of danger.
I invite you to pray as well.
