In Education Week Teacher, Boston teacher Lillie Marshall writes about her personal reactions to the Boston Marathon bombings coupled with her seventh grade students’ desire to discuss and learn about the tragic events that happened right in their backyard.
“Along with my personal feelings of nausea and denial, professional worries beat through my head. Can seventh graders deal respectfully and responsibly with a topic that is both awful and awfully close to home?” she asks.
This is the same situation teachers have been faced with unfortunately so many times before—after Columbine, 9/11, Aurora, and Newtown, just to name a few tragedies.
The Boston Public School system quickly offered its teachers these tips from the National Association of School Psychologists.
- Remain calm and reassuring.
- Acknowledge and normalize their feelings.
- Take care of your own needs.
- Turn off or monitor the television.
- Discuss events in age-appropriate terms.?
- Stick to the facts.
Scholastic.com offers resources for teachers to help them handle the discussion and reaction to tragedies. In 10 Tips for Talking With Students About Tragedy, clinical psychologist and therapist Dr. Robin F. Goodman offers advice for addressing student concerns and what to do it a student gets upset.
Goodman says, “Teachers wear multiple hats: they must teach, nurture, and support. They are in a wonderful position to educate about facts and feelings. Teachers should let students know there are no right or wrong ways to feel, and that feelings change over time. They should present issues in a dispassionate way; accept all opinions; correct misinformation; and be mindful to teach and model tolerance.”
Here are a few other resources that provide tips and guidance:
- From Parents, Scholastic.com—Talking to Your Kids About Natural Disasters, War, and Violence
- From Education World—When Tragedy Strikes: What Schools Should Do
- From About.com—School Tragedy: 5 Things to Help an Administrator Dealing With a School Tragedy
- From Thirteen, WNET New Work—Dealing With Tragedy: Tips and Resources for Teachers and Parents
Additional ISM resources of interest
ISM Monthly Update for Business Managers Vol. 11 No. 4 After a Tragedy
ISM Monthly Update for School Heads Vol. 10 No. 6 When (Not If) a Crisis Happens, Will You be Ready?
