Scared. Frustrated. Heartbroken.
These are but a few words to describe the utter sadness and grief so many of us are experiencing over the deaths of two students and two staff members killed at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. As we all struggle to process yet another school shooting, the most common question I am hearing is: “When does this STOP?”
In the coming days, weeks, and months, there will no doubt be lots of finger-pointing and handwringing about who is to blame for these awful instances of violence that now seem to be a new normal for our children and our communities. And while policy disagreements are normal in a democratic society, current political polarization only contributes to adversarial climates where winning arguments and apportioning blame eclipses the pursuit of solutions through civil discourse.
However, we at the Georgia Partnership stand ready to continue engaging in the hard and uncomfortable work of rising above the political rhetoric and tackling education problems head-on. We especially remain steadfast in our commitment to examining school safety for the complex challenge that it is, knowing one strategy alone will not address all elements of school safety. Extreme instances of violence, such as school shootings, are not carried out in isolation but are often the result of other interrelated factors. Issues like firearms, adult and student sexual misconduct, substance abuse, gangs, bullying, approaches to discipline, and the social-emotional health of both students and faculty all play a role in school safety.
The Georgia Partnership joins those across Georgia who are mourning this terrible tragedy and is doing what we can to comfort those who have experienced the most unimaginable trauma. As we currently stand united in our grief, moving forward, we must stand united in our resolve to find real answers to this complex problem. Though the most common question may be, “When does this STOP?,” the true question we must answer is, “HOW do we stop this?”
Sincerely,
Dr. Dana Rickman
President
Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education