After Another School Shooting, No More Words.

A Decade of Writing from The Educator's Room on Gun Violence in the United States

Another community in the United States has been added to the roster of sites of senseless tragedy. Today it is Uvalde. Last week it was Buffalo. Before them, it was Oxford, Michigan, Parkland, Florida, Newton, Connecticut, and far too many others. In fact, this year alone, there have been 27 school shootings in the United States.

After another senseless tragedy, we asked our writers to share their thoughts. But we weren't ready. We didn't have words. Only shock and grief. 

So rather than going through the motions of shock, grief, and anger once more, we're offering 10-plus years' worth of writing on gun violence and school shootings. Over the years, we've published almost 30 pieces begging for an end to gun violence in America. They serve as a gut-wrenching indictment of our country's decades-long failure to protect its children, educators, and others from senseless gun violence.

We didn't have to go far back for the last post. Just last week, a white supremacist murdered 10 innocent Black people while they were shopping for groceries.

The Exhaustion of Black Educators on Another "Day After"

Three years ago, we marked the 20th anniversary of the Columbine Shooting with similar exhaustion and sadness as today.

Columbine Shooting 20 Years Later – Our Children Are Still Dying

We've thought about the impact of gun violence on students and shared their experiences as well.

School Shootings From The Eyes of a Student and as a Teacher

Are the Kids Alright? Student Reflections on School Shootings 

This is America...Unpacking the Layers of Violence Our Students See 

"Young Voices Matter:" My Fifteen-Year-Old Sister's Response to the Florida Massacre 

We reflected on how to use our voices as educators in the classroom and beyond. 

Gun Violence in America: 4 Ways To Talk About the Elephant in the Room

#ArmMeWith Starts a Movement Among Teachers

America's Gun Problem: What Can Teachers Do? 

Throughout the years, we've sought answers to end gun violence. 

A School Boycott Isn't the Way To End Gun Violence

Are More Gun Control Laws Needed? 

Imagining a National Teachers' Strike

At times we looked to our students for inspiration, such as when Stoneman Douglas students organized the March for Our Lives. When they took action, we looked for ways to show solidarity.

In a Time When Its Hard to be a teacher, I look to Stoneman Douglas Students for strength

If That's What it Takes, Students Should Be Outspoken, Feisty, and Rebellious

Educators React to the March for Our Lives

Support Student Voices: March for Our Lives

Students are the activists pushing for better gun policies

#NationalSchoolWalkout Activities for Elementary Students

In Defense of My Students...From a Teacher in Florida

The Parkland shooting and the March for Our Lives seemed to be an inflection point. In our grief, we dared to hope for change. But over the years, nothing changed. Instead, we marked somber anniversaries and began to acknowledge that gun violence is endemic to teaching in the United States. 

Sandy Hook Remembered

Looking Back on a Terrible Week: Teachers Killed in the Line of Duty

Gun Violence: A Teacher's New Normal?

Dying To Be Taught: No end to our Culture of Violence

"Run, Hide (Barricade), Fight." - Our New School Violence Reality

Unspeakable Things We Must Speak About

Over and over again, our writers made it clear. This is not okay. We are not interested in being armed. Lockdowns and active shooter drills in place of common-sense gun safety laws do not make us feel safe. They traumatize our students and us.

I Didn't Sign Up To Be A Hero

Hiding in the School Building: Why Lockdown Drills Suck

5 Reasons to End Active Shooter Drills in Schools

And these are just some of the posts we've written about mass shootings and school shootings. School shootings have become such a defining characteristic of education in the United States that there are likely many more pieces of our writing that mention them in passing. In addition, we've written dozens of posts about police shootings and other forms of gun violence which disproportionately harm Black and Brown communities.

Educators are tired. We're tired of asking again and again for an end to the violence that takes young lives and the lives of our colleagues. We should have been done writing after Columbine. After Sandy Hook. After Parkland. Enough is enough.

There are many meaningful ways to take action against gun violence in your community and the United States. If you’re looking for a place to start here are a few ideas:

Support BIPOC youth-led organizations like Youth Over Guns.

Use EveryTown's ToolKit to help your students demand action and take part in a national walkout on Thursday, May 26th.

To connect with Moms Demand Action, a nationwide organization fighting for stronger gun safety laws, text ACT to 644-33.

To learn about community-based violence intervention programs like Mothers/Men Against Senseless Killings, visit 1 Million Experiments. 1 Million Experiments is an effort to collect abolitionist projects taking place across the world.

Call your Senator to demand they pass HR 8 which would require and strengthen background checks on all gun sales. If they already support the bill, you can thank them for their support.