Gun Violence & Student Activisim

Hello colleagues, I know many of us and the learners we serve are deeply concerned about gun violence. This issue has erupted on the national stage once again after the tragedy in Parkland, Florida last week. I'm wondering if teachers are discussing the issue in their classes. How are you approaching this and how have students responded?.

Thanks for sharing your insights on this incredibly important topic here.

Susan Finn Miller, Moderator Teaching & Learning CoP

 

 

Comments

Hello colleagues, I want to share one teacher's approach to this topic. Kelly Gallagher is a high school English teacher in southern California. He has set out to do a 12-day unit on gun violence with his seniors and is blogging daily about his experience. He is deeply reflecting and grappling publicly with the challenges any teacher would face when approaching such a sensitive issue. I am finding Gallagher's blog both riveting and inspiring. Take a look and share your thoughts with us here. Be sure to read the introduction where Gallagher candidly lays out the uncertainties he feels as he begins this unit and the public sharing of his work.

Susan Finn Miller

Moderator, Teaching & Learning CoP

Susan, I know I'm joining many others here in thanking you for bringing up this issue of gun violence and how it relates to the changing role of students and teachers as a result of Florida's event last week and several others like it around the nation.

I suspect that some might regard this as a politically-related issue and, therefore, hesitate to comment. However, I believe that the topic presents an ideal focus to encourage language expression in many formats. Why? Let me count some ways!

  1. It is a highly emotional topic that promotes good writing and other life-related skills. Views about gun control, and student and instructor power or powerlessness cover wide ground and present excellent opportunities to practice expository content.
  2. It is a real-life topic, and, as we know, that's what hooks our learners. I don't live in a city, but I have lived in Philadephia and worked very closely with different racial groups in its ghettoes. In fact, as a Jr. High teacher and activist in one ghetto, I experienced school violence myself. There was no physical shooting but violence surrounded my classroom of English-learning Puerto Rican students at every turn! 
  3. It empowers students as they discover that they do have a voice and that their voice counts. They may start slowly in our classrooms, with our encouragement, help, and approval. However, when students get a little taste of what it's like to have a voice, they often start speaking a little louder!

For those who would like student activities to emulate, check out Susan's link to Kelly Gallagher's blog! He has some extraordinarily creative and effective ways to develop cognitive and other academic skills around this issue among his students.

I hope that others here will voice their views in the forum. If you encourage discussion on this topic, share your experience! Let's talk more! Leecy

Hello colleagues, I'm heartened that so many teachers are engaging students in discussing and writing about gun violence. For just one example, my local newspaper has been publishing student letters (mostly high school, but also younger students) for the past three days. The letters have filled two full pages in our paper. The Sunday edition included four op-eds by college and high school age women. Not surprisingly, the contributions cover a wide range of opinions. I'm just happy that students and teachers are discussing the issue and that our newspaper has created this open forum.  People are sharing their opinions in a civil manner, and that is a good thing. Here's a link to some of the students' writing.

Please let us know how you are addressing this issue with the students in your class. This is a golden opportunity to engage students in writing for a real audience.

Cheers, Susan Finn Miller

Moderator, Teaching & Learning CoP