This is a sobering piece. I'm not a parent but the pain, grief and worry is obviously understandable. I have a deep respect for teachers. Most adults recall transformational experiences with their teachers as do I. Keep doing what you do and thank you for your service.
As a 20+ year educator in the US, nothing gets my cortisol spiking quite like the times that I have been responsible, as a school principal, for organizing and enacting active shooter/lockdown drills during the school day. No matter how many times I had to run them (at least four per school year), and how much self-talk of, "This is just a drill," I would repeat in my head, it always felt far too (sur)real. Walking around in a silent school after just having announced the drill over the PA system, jiggling door handles to ensure that teachers had locked themselves in, checking for any students in bathroom or hallways that may have gotten closed out of their classroom, looking into doorway windows to see if I could catch a glimpse of any students who weren't out of the line of sight - it really is the most sobering, intense thing we do here in the US. And sadly it is for too normal.
As you said, the worst part of all of it when there is an actual shooting here is how quickly we move on and get back to "normal" across the country. None of it is normal, and yet we just keep going. I'm so sorry you have had your feelings of safety shattered and have had to even consider how to answer those questions from your daughter. It's a feeling I wish on nobody, and it's something I fear we will never be able to fix in the States.
Thank you, Tim, for this thoughtful and insightful comment, and as much as it's turned into a cliche, I truly can't imagine what that's like. Just hearing it from you and other friends is hardly enough to comprehend the feeling of having to take part in those drills. These poor kids, what's going through their heads, kids should not have to endure this.
I'd like to think we're safe in Europe, but this was a reminder that we're not safe anywhere. It's terrifying, and I'm an anxious wreck at the best of times. This hardly helps.
It gives me some hope that there are plenty of people who care and aren't going to let these become "normal", but you are right, too often the attitude is one of "these things happen, let's get on with it" instead of getting to the roots of the problem.
But too many of us are preaching to the converted (or choir, if you prefer) and I'm pessimistic about real change happening.
On an aside, and I'm as pro-gun control as anyone, but Austria has a fairly high rate of gun ownership. And yet...I wish I understood these things better.
Wow wow wow. I hadn't heard about this shooting, Daniel. Thank you for talking about it. I share your fears. All parents do. Hopefully it will be the last in Austria and Europe at large for a long long time. 🙏🙏🙏
What a moment for you to return to the classroom. And what an awful tragedy. I'm really sure you were a huge comfort to the kids in a confusing and frightening moment, and to your own daughter of course. The pictures are adorable and your captions really made me laugh despite the sad subject matter of the post. Life is like that, I guess - messed up, surreal and a mixture of everything, and humour can get us through a lot. Thus, I'm sure the clown in the classroom technique also worked wonders. Sending hugs.
Thank you Jayne, this is such a sweet comment. I did my best in the circumstances, and before long we were all back to our usual clowning around and shenanigans. Such crazy timing for it happen like that and it was very surreal. This sadly seems to be a regular occurrence in the US, so much so that it hardly comes as a shock when there’s another tragedy. But here, in Europe?
I’m sure you did great, given the circumstances. And yes, absolutely, it does feel like something that doesn’t happen in Europe as (tragically) often as the US, which adds another shade of fear and sadness to the situation.
Thank you, but honestly, you give me too much credit. I won’t deny that there are plenty of shenanigans, but they are of questionable taste and it’s debatable whether any actual learning takes place.
The shooting in Graz was horrific and so uncharacteristic of Austria. I, too, have always felt completely safe there--even when coming and going on Viennese subways all by myself late at night. It's a tragedy that one person could suddenly rip such assumptions apart.
Thank you for sharing this Daniel, it’s all so very shocking and heartbreaking. I’d never even heard of shooter drills until you mentioned it the other day , we have practice ‘lock downs’. The impact on teachers and parents of kids who go to the schools under attack, I can’t even imagine. The Southport attack at a dance school was horrific, the teachers tried to protect the kids , so brave. As I said before I’m sure you can answer questions in a really sympathetic , thoughtful way, very difficult though.
Thanks for your heartfelt response. Honestly, the shooter drills I hear about in the US sound horrific, I’m so glad my daughter doesn’t have to go through those. Kids are so innocent and sensitive. Some of the stories from the Southport attack just floored me, I get very emotional with these things.
As for whether I really can answer sympathetically…I do my best, it’s hard to rein in my silly side, but I can manage to be serious when the situation arises.
I taught high school in NH for 22 years and can relate to what teachers, students, and parents are experiencing emotionally when they hear/see news like this. God bless their families.
I am so sorry that teachers, students, and parents anywhere have to deal with this. I remember columbine well and despite thinking about these things regularly since I was in junior high, I still feel shock that this is a reality. Beautiful piece.
Gosh, that sounds hard. One of the advantages of moving to Europe was that our girls wouldn’t have to endure these horrible (and sadly necessary) active shooter drills. But of course, it can happen anywhere.
I still think being in Europe is the right move, for so many reasons.
Don't forget to hug those darling daughters of yours tight every chance you get, no matter what little turds they can sometimes be! (speaking, of course, from my own experience 😂)
This is a sobering piece. I'm not a parent but the pain, grief and worry is obviously understandable. I have a deep respect for teachers. Most adults recall transformational experiences with their teachers as do I. Keep doing what you do and thank you for your service.
Thanks for reading and for your comment. I shall keep at it for as long as I’m able 😊
As a 20+ year educator in the US, nothing gets my cortisol spiking quite like the times that I have been responsible, as a school principal, for organizing and enacting active shooter/lockdown drills during the school day. No matter how many times I had to run them (at least four per school year), and how much self-talk of, "This is just a drill," I would repeat in my head, it always felt far too (sur)real. Walking around in a silent school after just having announced the drill over the PA system, jiggling door handles to ensure that teachers had locked themselves in, checking for any students in bathroom or hallways that may have gotten closed out of their classroom, looking into doorway windows to see if I could catch a glimpse of any students who weren't out of the line of sight - it really is the most sobering, intense thing we do here in the US. And sadly it is for too normal.
As you said, the worst part of all of it when there is an actual shooting here is how quickly we move on and get back to "normal" across the country. None of it is normal, and yet we just keep going. I'm so sorry you have had your feelings of safety shattered and have had to even consider how to answer those questions from your daughter. It's a feeling I wish on nobody, and it's something I fear we will never be able to fix in the States.
Thank you, Tim, for this thoughtful and insightful comment, and as much as it's turned into a cliche, I truly can't imagine what that's like. Just hearing it from you and other friends is hardly enough to comprehend the feeling of having to take part in those drills. These poor kids, what's going through their heads, kids should not have to endure this.
I'd like to think we're safe in Europe, but this was a reminder that we're not safe anywhere. It's terrifying, and I'm an anxious wreck at the best of times. This hardly helps.
It gives me some hope that there are plenty of people who care and aren't going to let these become "normal", but you are right, too often the attitude is one of "these things happen, let's get on with it" instead of getting to the roots of the problem.
But too many of us are preaching to the converted (or choir, if you prefer) and I'm pessimistic about real change happening.
On an aside, and I'm as pro-gun control as anyone, but Austria has a fairly high rate of gun ownership. And yet...I wish I understood these things better.
Wow wow wow. I hadn't heard about this shooting, Daniel. Thank you for talking about it. I share your fears. All parents do. Hopefully it will be the last in Austria and Europe at large for a long long time. 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for reading, I feel like we’re becoming too immune to school shootings, especially in the face of all the other constant wave of bad news.
Mental health is no joke. It's time countries stop treating it like one.
What a moment for you to return to the classroom. And what an awful tragedy. I'm really sure you were a huge comfort to the kids in a confusing and frightening moment, and to your own daughter of course. The pictures are adorable and your captions really made me laugh despite the sad subject matter of the post. Life is like that, I guess - messed up, surreal and a mixture of everything, and humour can get us through a lot. Thus, I'm sure the clown in the classroom technique also worked wonders. Sending hugs.
Thank you Jayne, this is such a sweet comment. I did my best in the circumstances, and before long we were all back to our usual clowning around and shenanigans. Such crazy timing for it happen like that and it was very surreal. This sadly seems to be a regular occurrence in the US, so much so that it hardly comes as a shock when there’s another tragedy. But here, in Europe?
I’m sure you did great, given the circumstances. And yes, absolutely, it does feel like something that doesn’t happen in Europe as (tragically) often as the US, which adds another shade of fear and sadness to the situation.
Safe to say, you’re an amazing teacher… keeping the kids entertained, distracted from the hatred in the world, laughing along with your shenanigans.
Thank you, but honestly, you give me too much credit. I won’t deny that there are plenty of shenanigans, but they are of questionable taste and it’s debatable whether any actual learning takes place.
The shooting in Graz was horrific and so uncharacteristic of Austria. I, too, have always felt completely safe there--even when coming and going on Viennese subways all by myself late at night. It's a tragedy that one person could suddenly rip such assumptions apart.
Vienna (and Austria) does feel so safe and this shooting shattered that illusion.
I hadn't heard about that - awful. We don't need that export!
Ps, the drawings are sooo cute.
The one of me is frighteningly accurate!
😂
Thank you for sharing this Daniel, it’s all so very shocking and heartbreaking. I’d never even heard of shooter drills until you mentioned it the other day , we have practice ‘lock downs’. The impact on teachers and parents of kids who go to the schools under attack, I can’t even imagine. The Southport attack at a dance school was horrific, the teachers tried to protect the kids , so brave. As I said before I’m sure you can answer questions in a really sympathetic , thoughtful way, very difficult though.
Thanks for your heartfelt response. Honestly, the shooter drills I hear about in the US sound horrific, I’m so glad my daughter doesn’t have to go through those. Kids are so innocent and sensitive. Some of the stories from the Southport attack just floored me, I get very emotional with these things.
As for whether I really can answer sympathetically…I do my best, it’s hard to rein in my silly side, but I can manage to be serious when the situation arises.
I would imagine that your silly side can come in handy when needed. 😊
I taught high school in NH for 22 years and can relate to what teachers, students, and parents are experiencing emotionally when they hear/see news like this. God bless their families.
I am so sorry that teachers, students, and parents anywhere have to deal with this. I remember columbine well and despite thinking about these things regularly since I was in junior high, I still feel shock that this is a reality. Beautiful piece.
I will never not feel shock and heartbreak for as long as this continues to happen.
Thanks for reading and your thoughts. Never stop hugging your darling daughters tight, despite all the barfing and refusing to wear shoes.
Gosh, that sounds hard. One of the advantages of moving to Europe was that our girls wouldn’t have to endure these horrible (and sadly necessary) active shooter drills. But of course, it can happen anywhere.
I still think being in Europe is the right move, for so many reasons.
Don't forget to hug those darling daughters of yours tight every chance you get, no matter what little turds they can sometimes be! (speaking, of course, from my own experience 😂)
I can never get enough hugs
thank you!