This time last year, the education community was rattled by violence that swept through Newtown, Connecticut. Our televisions broke through regular programming to bring us live coverage of an unfolding tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary. For days, news reports continuously scrolled through the photos of the 20 innocent children who wouldn’t be celebrating the holiday season, as sobering music conflicted with joyful commercials announcing last day sales. On December 14, 2012, the holiday season stopped—everything stopped—as the world watched the second-deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
In a year’s time, we’ve seen a transformation in how both schools and parents approach safety, risk management, and opinions regarding law—especially gun control. Following the Sandy Hook tragedy, policies about gun control and campus safety flooded news sources, chat rooms, forums, and blog sites. “Change, change, change” they all seemed to scream. And, there was change. A lot of schools immediately updated their policies and increased campus security. Even though reports confirmed the administration and faculty of Sandy Hook reacted flawlessly to the events and still lives were lost, schools around the country stopped to reexamine their crisis plans and training procedures.
These aren't the only changes instigated by the tragedy. Personal introspection—not only from the families who lost a loved one, but also from those who were truly moved by the event—was undertaken. Lives have been changed from what happened last December 14. Some for the better, some not, but most have decided to dedicate their work and lives to making a difference in others.
Huffington Post reported a follow-up piece on the families who lost a child that cold day last December. Perhaps not surprisingly, many of their stories also includes a link to a foundation established in memory of their son or daughter or charity. These families are deciding to focus on remembrance, love, and support as they slowly heal. Their stories touch us still as we look back on the year and remember how time stopped as the events touched us all.
From around the Web, tributes and remembrances have popped up as the anniversary neared. Online image portfolios and blog sites have spread love to all those affected. As a nation, what happened last year has not been forgotten. Teen brothers set up a memorial light display in their front yard, Pinterest pinners have created boards upon boards, and letters continue to pour into Newtown with emotional messages and donations—so many in fact, that the town is struggling to preserve them all.
Emily Parker’s family posted this video
on their blog site and YouTube channel reflecting on how the year has changed them. Even after the darkest possible event a family can image going through, they send hope and inspiration to others continuing to struggle. It’s not a political plea for tighter policies, or a religious message to be saved, yet instead, it’s a warm remembrance that encourages all of us to step back and look for positives that can be created from the evil that couldn’t be stopped.
ABC News remembers Sandy Hook through a published photo gallery.
Image courtesy of dailmail.co.uk.
Additional ISM articles of interest
ISM Monthly Update for Trustees Vol. 12 No.1 ‘Getting Schooled’ on Security Issues: A Multi-Tiered Approach
ISM Monthly Update for Business Officers Vol. 11 No. 5 Your School’s Security
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 3 No. 7 Planning Against Violent Acts
ISM Monthly Update for Division Heads Vol. 10 No. 6 Zero Tolerance and Young Children: What’s the Common-Sense Answer?
Private School News Vol. 12 No. 7 Students Get A Lesson In Safety
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 3 No. 4 Newtown School Your School
Private School News Vol. 12 No. 1 Safer With Armed Guards?
ISM Monthly Update for Business Officers Vol. 11 No. 4 After a Tragedy
