Teenagers of this generation are growing up in an era of school gun violence. There are questions involving how these recent shootings are affecting school faculty, the people we trust to protect students. “There needs to be better bonds and relationships between students and faculty,” Spanish teacher Lidia Almídon said.

More often than not, students rarely engage with their teachers in meaningful conversations outside of the classroom. Improving students’ relationships with teachers has important, positive and long-lasting implications for both students’ academic and social development. Solely improving students’ relationships with their teachers will not only produce gains in achievement. Those students who have close, positive and supportive relationships with their teachers will attain higher levels of achievement than those students with more conflict in their relationships.

Along with students having a better relationship with their teachers it is also crucial that students talk to their counselors. “School counselors need to be more involved and invested in their students,” Almídon said.

School counselors are supposed to help all students in the areas of academic achievement, career and social/emotional development, ensuring today’s students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. If school counselors have meetings with students more often, talking about their social and emotional health, it can help prevent events like the Parkland shooting from happening again.

President Donald Trump is considering allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons in schools, which is his stance on how to best protect school against shooting massacres. “Nobody wants to give me a firearm, and if someone tried to do that I would not take it. That’s not why I became a teacher and I feel really strongly about not having guns in schools,” English teacher Michelle Hanson said.

On Mar. 14, there was a walkout in Washington D.C. Students and supporters from all around gathered to fight for what they believe in, which in this case was against gun laws.

“As a nation and community, we are taking the right precautions in response to the tragic event that occurred,” math teacher Eva O’Keefe said.

Josh Levine

Staff Writer