“You’ll never guess what happened…”

The words have haunting and disturbing sound in this day and age, and are all too often associated with tragic news and events. This time Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida was identified as the latest school site where once again an act of horrific and senseless violence had occurred.

I want to send my condolences and prayers to the families who lost loved ones. Words are difficult to find at times like this, but they need to know that many people across the world share the pain and sorrow the community is experiencing. Children are the greatest asset a country has and when they are taken away from us there is a void that is hard to, if ever, filled. It is heartbreaking to hear about another school shooting and a community that is looking for answers to the question “why?”

For myself the tragedy struck “home” in a particular way. Yesterday, I had just finished spending the morning in Meghan Willis’ art and engineering class at HTHSCV. For three class periods I observed, asked/answered questions and was engaged in conversations associated with their “Festival del Sol” project designs and ideas. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn and listen to the diverse voices of many young “artists, designers and architects.” After writing up my observation notes, a student stopped me in the hallway and wanted to ask questions about attending college, how to decide a major, and what type of career to pursue. It was a thoughtful conversation --- a moment to share ideas and discuss his future. As a teacher, there are many “memorable moments” when you have a conversation with a student --- this was one such moment.

Walking back to my car, the cell phone rang and there was a text with the ominous words, “you’ll never guess what happened --- this time in Florida.” I couldn’t help but think about the students and teachers at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School who lost their lives and others whose lives will be forever changed by this event --- whose hopes, dreams and aspirations, and “memorable moments” were cut short or altered by a callous and cowardly act. I thought about my morning with the students at HTHSCV, the young man in the hallway, and schools across the nation that are supposed to be “safe harbors” and places of learning. What has happened over the last 20 years related to school violence and deaths is disturbing beyond anything imaginable.

A great number of things need to change related to the myriad of issues paralyzing our country today. The magnitude of gun availability and gun ownership in a “purported civilized society” is incomprehensible. At what point do we change the context and content of the question “you’ll never guess what happened today…” from a frightening and destructive narrative to a positive and affirming discourse and celebration of the human spirit and life? Our young people deserve answers and soon, simply because children’s lives matter!