The Tragedy in Uvalde

By Barbara Kaiser and Judy Sklar Rasminsky

Like other teachers and parents all over North America, we are grieving for the families in Uvalde, TX—and angry that such events continue to happen.

We have two important questions.

• First, what can we do now, in the present, to help one another and the children we care for to live with this trauma and its aftermath (besides turning off the television)?

Here is some advice from experts:

https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/18/09/helping-teachers-manage-weight-trauma

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/helping-children-with-tragic-events-in-the-news

https://www.apa.org/topics/gun-violence-crime/shooting-aftermath

• The second question—what can we do to stop this violence?—is almost impossible to answer. But the short answer is this: When you vote in any election, be it local or national, write or call the candidates to find out their views on gun control. Remember that the shooters in Uvalde and Buffalo were both just 18 years old.