Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! A 6-year-old shot his teacher? A 6-year-old shot his teacher. Since Friday I have been repeating this over and over in my head, like the broken record of phrases I use to redirect students back to important tasks. At […]
gun control
A School Boycott Isn’t the Way To End Gun Violence
On this suggested school boycott-let’s be serious. In The Atlantic, former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan  suggested a massive nationwide school boycott to pressure our leaders into action to address gun violence. But a boycott of schools is not the way to pressure unwilling establishment leaders for better gun laws, and it is a shame that people considered to […]
This is America…Unpacking the Layers of Violence Our Students See
Yesterday evening, Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) debuted a new video entitled, “This is America” and for the past 24 hours, I’ve been entranced with the layers of symbolism in this video dealing with racism, violence, gun control, etc.. Before I go any further, I have to be honest. Up until two years ago, I […]
Student Activists Lead the Way
How the Parkland students became those activists Will it be student activists who force political action regarding gun violence in America? Maybe that’s exactly what this country needs. Mere days after the February 14th shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas School in Parkland Florida, Emma Gonzales, one of the student-survivors, was calling out politicians at a […]
In Defense of My Students…From a Teacher in Florida
Guest Writer: Chele Allan It’s taken me quite a while to psychologically and emotionally process the Parkland school shooting. As a teacher in Florida, this is very close to home. My own school had an active shooter less than one block from the campus earlier this school year. While the shooter wasn’t after students, he […]
If That’s What it Takes, Students Should Be Outspoken, Feisty, and Rebellious
I’m mad. I’m furious. And I feel alone. According to EveryTown for Gun Safety Support Fund, “Since 2013, there have been nearly 300 school shootings.” How did we get here? How did we get to a society which broadcasts more violence and hatred than kindness and generosity? A society where people are more likely to turn […]
Gun Violence: A Teacher's New Normal?
Tomorrow morning I’ll bike to school like I always do. I’ll park by my classroom, unlock the outside door, and head into the indoor hallway. I’ll hear other English teachers leading their lessons, and I’ll peek inside to see the 7th grade faces. As I near my classroom, I’ll hear the chatter from the Spanish […]
Where's The Outrage for Jordan Davis?
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] For months we’ve witnessed educators across the country becoming infuriated with the possibility that a national set of standards, the Common Core Standards, will be implemented in states across America. People […]