“Can we keep our children alive in America’s classrooms?” This is the question that has been haunting parents and educators across the country in the wake of numerous school shootings. The recent tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 innocent lives were lost, has once again brought this question to the forefront of national conversation. Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, has been a vocal advocate for addressing the problem of gun violence in schools and finding solutions to keep our children safe.
As a parent myself, I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and fear that parents of school-going children must feel every day. Sending our children to school should not be a terrifying experience, it should be a routine part of their lives. However, the reality is that school shootings have become all too common in America. According to a study by the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 18 school shootings in the first 45 days of 2018 alone. This is a staggering number and one that cannot be ignored any longer.
Keri Rodrigues, a mother of three, understands this fear and frustration all too well. In an interview with CNN, she said, “We are living in a time where sending our children to school has become a gamble with their lives. This is not acceptable. We need to take action now to protect our children and ensure their safety in schools.”
The National Parents Union, founded in 2012, is a non-profit organization that represents the voices of parents from all backgrounds and communities across the country. It aims to empower parents to be advocates for their children’s education and well-being. In light of the recent school shootings, the union has taken a strong stance on the issue of gun violence in schools.
Rodrigues, along with other members of the National Parents Union, has been actively working towards finding solutions to keep our children safe in schools. They have been pushing for stricter gun control laws, advocating for better mental health resources, and calling for increased security measures in schools. The union has also been working with lawmakers to bring about policy changes that will address the root cause of gun violence in schools.
But the fight for our children’s safety cannot be left to just one organization or group of people. It is a collective responsibility that we all must take on. As parents, we must demand action from our elected officials and hold them accountable for their actions. We must also have open and honest conversations with our children about the issue of gun violence and teach them to be aware of their surroundings and to report any suspicious behavior.
As a society, we must also address the issue of mental health and provide better resources for those in need. Many of the perpetrators of school shootings have had a history of mental health issues that have gone untreated. It is our responsibility to ensure that those who are struggling with mental health receive the help they need before it’s too late.
Moreover, we must also work towards creating a culture of kindness and empathy in our schools. Bullying and exclusion can often lead to feelings of isolation and anger in students, which can manifest into violent behavior. By promoting a culture of acceptance and understanding, we can help prevent such tragedies from occurring.
In conclusion, the question of whether we can keep our children alive in America’s classrooms is a difficult one to answer. But one thing is for sure, we cannot sit back and do nothing. We must take action now to address the issue of gun violence in schools and work towards creating a safer environment for our children. As Keri Rodrigues rightly said, “Our children deserve to feel safe in their schools, and it is our duty as parents to make sure that happens.” Let us come together as a community and make sure that our children’s safety is not compromised any longer.
