I had planned to write a post today showcasing our cute gingerbread houses and Christmas Around the World projects. But my heart will not let me do this now as it is broken due to the senseless tragic event that occurred in Sandy Hook School yesterday in Newtown, Connecticut. Instead I am posting a link to a project that a fellow TPT teacher created. It is her attempt to teach how important it is to be kind to one another and to promote positive self esteem to each of our students. Thank you Primary Techie for creating this memorial project. Click on the image to find her link.
Our country must do something to get this senseless use of guns under control. Why do we allow the sale of guns to anyone who has a driver's license? Why is there not a period of waiting before a person is allowed to go home with a gun? Why, why are guns that are created to kill mass amounts of people allowed to be sold to anyone who walks in to purchase one? And also, just as importantly, mental illness must be taken seriously in this country - not shoved under the carpet and kept there until a heinous crime is committed. People afflicted with mental illness can, and do, lead normal lives. But for those that need extended help, it must be available to them.
Our nation's leaders need to get beyond their petty political arguments and begin to work together as members of the SAME team and not opponents. I invite any politician to witness the negotiations that occur among my little ones. They argue and they listen. They compromise. They negotiate. They work for the greater good of our classroom. They shake hands and go on with their life; better people because of their negotiation. Politicians need to drop their loyalty to their lobbyists and work for the greater good of our country; not just those that fill their pockets. They need to remember the lessons that THEY learned in kindergarten - Play fair. Share. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Understand that there are more people in the room than just you. I implore our politicians to remember these life lessons and work together to ensure that tragedies like this never occur again. The freedom to bear arms is one thing; the freedom to kill at random is another....
The heroes in this tragedy are the teachers, the principal, the support staff, the parents......My deepest sympathy to the families in Newtown. You are in my thoughts and my prayers and always will be.
Peace and blessings, Cindy