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| Orlando terror a teaching moment as New York school will stage 'day of peace' Orlando terror a teaching moment as New York school will stage 'day of peace' | |
| (1 day later) | |
| Students at a New York elementary school will on Monday stage a “day of peace”, including a mass sidewalk “chalk-and-talk”, as they attempt to deal with fear and confusion caused by last weekend’s horrific shooting in Orlando. | Students at a New York elementary school will on Monday stage a “day of peace”, including a mass sidewalk “chalk-and-talk”, as they attempt to deal with fear and confusion caused by last weekend’s horrific shooting in Orlando. |
| Subjects up for discussion at Battery Park City School in lower Manhattan will include sexuality, gun control, race, religion, extremism, hate and anger. But the official theme will be peace. | Subjects up for discussion at Battery Park City School in lower Manhattan will include sexuality, gun control, race, religion, extremism, hate and anger. But the official theme will be peace. |
| Principal Terri Ruyter said the school had been abuzz with difficult conversations since a gunman killed 49 people and injured 53 in a gay nightclub in Florida on Sunday. | Principal Terri Ruyter said the school had been abuzz with difficult conversations since a gunman killed 49 people and injured 53 in a gay nightclub in Florida on Sunday. |
| “The kids are talking about it already, so don’t stick your heads in the sand,” she said. | “The kids are talking about it already, so don’t stick your heads in the sand,” she said. |
| The school, also known as PS/IS 276, has 875 elementary and middle school students, ages five to 14. On Monday, after a moment of silence, the youngsters will pour outside to chalk art on the sidewalk. Some will film the event. | The school, also known as PS/IS 276, has 875 elementary and middle school students, ages five to 14. On Monday, after a moment of silence, the youngsters will pour outside to chalk art on the sidewalk. Some will film the event. |
| Across the US, many schools had let students out for the summer before the atrocity occurred in Orlando. Those where vacations have not begun have found themselves with hundreds of bewildered children on their hands. | Across the US, many schools had let students out for the summer before the atrocity occurred in Orlando. Those where vacations have not begun have found themselves with hundreds of bewildered children on their hands. |
| “Schools that do not address this are missing a big opportunity to help kids make sense of their world,” Ruyter said. “It’s our moral job to help them figure it out.” | “Schools that do not address this are missing a big opportunity to help kids make sense of their world,” Ruyter said. “It’s our moral job to help them figure it out.” |
| Battery Park City School is close to Ground Zero. Although its students were not born when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center in 2001, going to school near the site has not been lost on them, the principal said. | Battery Park City School is close to Ground Zero. Although its students were not born when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center in 2001, going to school near the site has not been lost on them, the principal said. |
| Since Sunday’s atrocity, staff have been given mental health notes entitled: “How to talk to kids about terrorism and violence.” | Since Sunday’s atrocity, staff have been given mental health notes entitled: “How to talk to kids about terrorism and violence.” |
| According to a staff memo, on Monday each class will be assigned six or seven squares on the sidewalk to decorate with images and/or words “that show love, support, peace and compassion for those affected by this event”. | According to a staff memo, on Monday each class will be assigned six or seven squares on the sidewalk to decorate with images and/or words “that show love, support, peace and compassion for those affected by this event”. |
| Mary Valentine, a social studies teacher who deals with disciplinary matters as school dean, said: “I would like to think that if there are students that wanted to create an art piece to talk about their anger, that they could do that, too.” | Mary Valentine, a social studies teacher who deals with disciplinary matters as school dean, said: “I would like to think that if there are students that wanted to create an art piece to talk about their anger, that they could do that, too.” |
| Pupils said they planned to chalk the equivalent of a “peace quilt” on the sidewalk, and hoped members of the public would join in. | Pupils said they planned to chalk the equivalent of a “peace quilt” on the sidewalk, and hoped members of the public would join in. |
| “We have plenty of spare chalk,” said Ty Cutler, 14. | “We have plenty of spare chalk,” said Ty Cutler, 14. |
| Plans for the day of peace are being co-ordinated with the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, a group of students that acts as a forum and support group for children to discuss sexuality and gender identity. | Plans for the day of peace are being co-ordinated with the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, a group of students that acts as a forum and support group for children to discuss sexuality and gender identity. |
| “We have not had any students not recognizing the gay issue in this shooting,” said Valentine. “We have talked about terrorism as inflicting hurt and fear with some political gain in mind, and homophobia-inspired terrorism.” | “We have not had any students not recognizing the gay issue in this shooting,” said Valentine. “We have talked about terrorism as inflicting hurt and fear with some political gain in mind, and homophobia-inspired terrorism.” |
| Cutler, one of the organisers of the school GSA, said that before the Orlando shooting, students already had drawn up a version of a bill they want New York’s city council to pass, mandating a gay-straight alliance in every middle school. | Cutler, one of the organisers of the school GSA, said that before the Orlando shooting, students already had drawn up a version of a bill they want New York’s city council to pass, mandating a gay-straight alliance in every middle school. |
| “We have some pretty honest conversations in this school about LGBT issues,” Ruyter said, adding that since Sunday children have also been debating who should be allowed to have guns in America. The school has Muslim students but, so far, other students had not been seen to stereotype anyone, she said. | “We have some pretty honest conversations in this school about LGBT issues,” Ruyter said, adding that since Sunday children have also been debating who should be allowed to have guns in America. The school has Muslim students but, so far, other students had not been seen to stereotype anyone, she said. |
| The school has gay and transgender staff. Stickers saying “safe space” are dotted around, aiming to encourage students to talk with staff about any worries at all. | The school has gay and transgender staff. Stickers saying “safe space” are dotted around, aiming to encourage students to talk with staff about any worries at all. |
| “Some schools do not address these issues because they are afraid of the parents objecting,” Ruyter said. “But we are not pushing an agenda here, we are letting the kids be who they are and insisting they are respectful of others. | “Some schools do not address these issues because they are afraid of the parents objecting,” Ruyter said. “But we are not pushing an agenda here, we are letting the kids be who they are and insisting they are respectful of others. |
| On the other side of the nation, at John Hay Elementary School in downtown Seattle, principal Tami Beach discussed guidelines for talking to students after the Orlando shooting with the school counsellor. | On the other side of the nation, at John Hay Elementary School in downtown Seattle, principal Tami Beach discussed guidelines for talking to students after the Orlando shooting with the school counsellor. |
| “The focus was on stating the facts to the students as clearly and simply as possible and reiterating that we are doing everything we can to make sure our school is safe,” she said. | “The focus was on stating the facts to the students as clearly and simply as possible and reiterating that we are doing everything we can to make sure our school is safe,” she said. |
| She has opened up classroom discussions, so children can talk about all the “scary information” in the news. | She has opened up classroom discussions, so children can talk about all the “scary information” in the news. |
| “It’s really important that you are not brushing it under when children are asking questions or talking student to student about what is going on,” she said. “We’ve tried to be proactive.” | “It’s really important that you are not brushing it under when children are asking questions or talking student to student about what is going on,” she said. “We’ve tried to be proactive.” |
| Beach said she had not officially introduced the “heavy” issue of sexuality to the school’s 530 children who are under 11 years old. | Beach said she had not officially introduced the “heavy” issue of sexuality to the school’s 530 children who are under 11 years old. |
| “It could be very scary and confusing to bring up that topic in a large classroom, that’s really a topic for home,” she said. | “It could be very scary and confusing to bring up that topic in a large classroom, that’s really a topic for home,” she said. |
| The John Hay school regularly consults the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the latest guidelines on school emergency procedures, Beach said. Students practice lockdown drill twice a year. | The John Hay school regularly consults the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the latest guidelines on school emergency procedures, Beach said. Students practice lockdown drill twice a year. |
| Beach said students had been more frightened after the shooting at Sandy Hook school in Connecticut in 2012 than after the Orlando nightclub shooting. | Beach said students had been more frightened after the shooting at Sandy Hook school in Connecticut in 2012 than after the Orlando nightclub shooting. |
| “There was more anxiety coming from them then because they could see teachers and students and school buses on the news,” she said. | “There was more anxiety coming from them then because they could see teachers and students and school buses on the news,” she said. |
| At First Avenue Elementary School in Newark, New Jersey, teacher Haneefah Warren said “there were tears” the day after the Orlando massacre, from students who had gay relatives. | At First Avenue Elementary School in Newark, New Jersey, teacher Haneefah Warren said “there were tears” the day after the Orlando massacre, from students who had gay relatives. |
| “They were not afraid to express their grief,” Warren said. | “They were not afraid to express their grief,” Warren said. |
| Students and staff have been discussing what the massacre has raised about the right to bear arms and how to talk about your sexuality and “who you love”, Warren said. | Students and staff have been discussing what the massacre has raised about the right to bear arms and how to talk about your sexuality and “who you love”, Warren said. |
| “They know it was a hate crime,” she added. | “They know it was a hate crime,” she added. |