Not One More

Yesterday was my first day of summer.
Normally I sleep in, lounge around,
and dream about of the carefree things I plan to do.
But yesterday was different.
I woke up to heartache.
Another school shooting...
here in Oregon.
Right across the street from my doctors' office.
Right where friends have worked...
But those aren't the only reasons that my heart ached,
my heart ached because we have all of the tools
needed in our community to help reduce these events.

Does that surprise you?
If you teach or work in schools,
you know the answer already.

Over the last few years,
class size has risen drastically,
teaching staff has been reduced,
instructional and office staff have been cut to the extreme...
and counseling staff have been given an impossible task.

I'm proud to be a teacher
and I'm very proud of the staff at Reynolds High School,
but my heart aches. You see, it's people that can make the difference in our schools.
Yes, academic achievement is important,
but more than that,
I believe that we need healthy students to reach our achievement goals.

The students that I teach are growing up in a world
that I would never have fathomed at their age.
For many of my students they arrive to school to eat,
go to class to have an adult talk to them and care,
and keep coming back because they feel safer at school than anywhere else.
It should always feel safe.
It should always BE safe.

Our kids need help.
They need adults in their life that can help them manage the maze of life.
Our schools need more adults.
Not adults standing guard...though any positive presence is good.
Our kids need adults that are trained to get kids to talk
and adults that can listen while guiding them through the drama.
Man, there is a lot of drama
and so many more ways for kids to be mean to each other...
they need help.

We need more counselors and staff in our schools.
Walking passed our counselors' door numerous times a day,
the sign-up sheet grows longer every time
with students needing to talk to her about something.
It is impossible for her to meet with every student that needs her,
contact parents for follow-ups,
and deal with the crisis events that happen daily.
One person is not enough.

If you believe like I do that our students need more mental health support,
please do something about it.
Contact your state representatives...write letters, emails, or call.
Our kids deserve to go to school and not only feel safe, but BE safe.

Not One More...

not one more student scared,

not one more parent in distress,

not one more kid that believes 

bringing a gun to school is the solution.

Not One More.