Since 1999, there has been over 270 school shootings in America. In those, a combined 141 students, teachers, and administrators have fallen victim to this crime. After a recent shooting in Parkland, Florida a fierce debate on the safety of America's school children has risen. On February 14th, 2018 a former student walked on campus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and proceeded to take 17 lives. In the last few years, the United States as a whole has seen a rise in crimes like these and many don't know how to help. This hits close to home for James Monroe Teacher, Alan Jones. He is sparking a fire in his 8th grade social studies’ classes. “I want to make a change because I don't want to go to my place of work scared for my life, and I don't want to fear for the lives of my students here either. No parent should be worried that it will be the last time they see their kids, when all they want to do is send them to get an education.”
Jones is reaching the community though his students. He understands that students are beginning to fear school which in his eyes and the eyes of others, is not acceptable. April 13, 2018, Alan Jones started to talk with his students about shootings, gun laws, and how the laws affect the students. This sparked controversy within his students. They began to doubt their second amendment rights. He asked, “What can we do to fix this?” Students gave him logical answers, for example, making kids have clear backpacks, adding extreme security, and bullet-proof windows and whiteboards to name a few. But the students ideas all had backfired on them. Finally, students and Jones, came to the conclusion of adding more officers. Why? He said, “You never see people shooting up police stations. So maybe it will work the same way in schools.” Jones then had students see for themselves how traumatic school shootings are through having them create a timeline, beginning with the Columbine shooting in 1999. Students were surprised to see how devastating the numbers of shootings there had been. Many students and parents are starting to realize that this problem is getting out of hand. Student, Lillian Anderson says that more security would bring higher attendance records at school and allow parents to feel safer sending their kids to school and kids to feel safe coming to school.
As the students discuss these events that are affecting students nationwide, they have begun to find ways to get the ball rolling. In the weeks to come, students in all five of Jones’s classes will begin drafting a petition, figuring out who they plan on sending it to, and how they will get the word out for signatures. The 8th grade social studies students plan on using social media to spread the word and the news if necessary. The students have a goal of getting the petition read by President Donald Trump. The drive to prevent more lives from being lost is being supported by many, including school officers Linda Lyon and Ron Baca at James Monroe. Although the journey will not be easy, many feel it will be worth it. After all, as Jones says “Change starts in classrooms like these.”
Jones is reaching the community though his students. He understands that students are beginning to fear school which in his eyes and the eyes of others, is not acceptable. April 13, 2018, Alan Jones started to talk with his students about shootings, gun laws, and how the laws affect the students. This sparked controversy within his students. They began to doubt their second amendment rights. He asked, “What can we do to fix this?” Students gave him logical answers, for example, making kids have clear backpacks, adding extreme security, and bullet-proof windows and whiteboards to name a few. But the students ideas all had backfired on them. Finally, students and Jones, came to the conclusion of adding more officers. Why? He said, “You never see people shooting up police stations. So maybe it will work the same way in schools.” Jones then had students see for themselves how traumatic school shootings are through having them create a timeline, beginning with the Columbine shooting in 1999. Students were surprised to see how devastating the numbers of shootings there had been. Many students and parents are starting to realize that this problem is getting out of hand. Student, Lillian Anderson says that more security would bring higher attendance records at school and allow parents to feel safer sending their kids to school and kids to feel safe coming to school.
As the students discuss these events that are affecting students nationwide, they have begun to find ways to get the ball rolling. In the weeks to come, students in all five of Jones’s classes will begin drafting a petition, figuring out who they plan on sending it to, and how they will get the word out for signatures. The 8th grade social studies students plan on using social media to spread the word and the news if necessary. The students have a goal of getting the petition read by President Donald Trump. The drive to prevent more lives from being lost is being supported by many, including school officers Linda Lyon and Ron Baca at James Monroe. Although the journey will not be easy, many feel it will be worth it. After all, as Jones says “Change starts in classrooms like these.”