Dear Students,
Recently, you witnessed a distressing event: peers, much like yourselves, fleeing their school under intense fear, hands on their heads, while some managed to capture the chaos unfolding in rooms similar to ours. Later that day, we learned of the tragic loss of 17 lives—a heartbreaking reality occurring in a school environment that should be a sanctuary for learning and growth. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.
After that day, many of you entered my classroom shaken, seeking reassurance about what I would do in the event of an active shooter in our school. You needed to know that I had a plan to ensure your safety. I assured you I did—having developed a comprehensive strategy to protect you, even if it meant putting myself in harm’s way. Like many educators, I would stand between you and a potential threat without hesitation.
In the days ahead, I know you will look for comfort every time a fire alarm blares, and loud noises may startle you. The prospect of lockdown drills may evoke anxiety, perhaps feelings you won’t openly express.
It’s important for you to understand that this situation is profoundly unjust. You shouldn’t feel fear while seated in my classroom; worrying about your safety during a fire drill is unacceptable. You should not have to contemplate whether you will return home to your families. This is not how it should be. As adults, we have let you down. We have failed to provide the safe educational environment that you deserve, allowing continued violence against students like you to persist without decisive action.
Every day that goes by without significant changes, we fail you again. We hear constant reminders from those who prioritize firearms over human lives that “now is not the time” for discussions about gun control. Yet you recognize the alarming frequency of school shootings—more than once a week—and you wonder when the right moment will arrive. You question why no meaningful action has been taken, and I find it difficult to provide a rational explanation as to why some prioritize their rights over your lives.
Today, you asked me a heartbreaking question: how many lives must be lost before we finally take action. I had no answer.
So here is my commitment to you: I will do everything within my power to ensure your safety. I will confront bullying behaviors to help prevent harm and listen to your concerns about any threats you perceive. I promise to reassure you as many times as necessary that I will take every possible measure to protect you.
I care deeply for each of you. I wish I could tell you that the latest tragedies would spark a change—that those influenced by the gun industry would prioritize your lives over profit—but I can’t guarantee that. What I can say is that you all matter immensely to me, and you deserve a better world.
We all deserve better.
—Ms. Taylor
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In summary, it is crucial that we prioritize safety and well-being in our schools, and as your educator, I am committed to advocating for a safer environment for all students.