I've Been Thinking of Going Back to School . . . But I'm Not Sure if I'm Up to it . . . Again . . . Yet.

(A Repost) For All Those Teachers Heading Back Into the Classroom . . .

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN’T LOOKING
- Mary Rita Schilke Korzan

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you displayed my first report, and I wanted to do another.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you fed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you gave me a sticker, and I knew that little things were special things.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, you put your arm around me, and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt--but that it’s all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you smiled, and it made me want to look that pretty too.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you cared, and I wanted to be everything I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking--I looked...and wanted to say thanks for all those things you did when you thought I wasn’t looking.

I Pulled Down Today's Originally Scheduled Post.

Because of various commitments, I have great chunks of time when I the things I love fall by the wayside. Not to let them go completely, I try to schedule posts in batches ahead of time.

In fact, the original post scheduled for today was drafted over a week ago. When I realized the content of the post I pulled it down immediately. I am not saying that there was anything wrong with the post itself, but in light of yesterday's happenings, it was inappropriate.

Yesterday gave us another tragedy involving firearms, a school, and children.

People will want a 'boogeyman' to blame, like video games, music, education ... Some will claim that certain groups, simply by their existence, caused it. There are always many theories thrown out at a time like this, most of them repulsive.

But there isn't one handy boogeyman, and no quick fix. Yes, the shooter pulled the trigger. But our gun laws are laughable; mental health care when it is available is stigmatizing; and the types of things that are known to fuel such actions: abuse, bullying, intolerance, are excused and downplayed, even celebrated in some quarters.

I wish for the victims' families and all those affected in Newton, Connecticut, the comfort and support that they will undoubtedly need to find solace and healing. There is nothing that can can be said at a time like this to ease their pain, but perhaps as a nation there are actions we can take.

Here are a few links: here, here, here, here, here.