School shootings

School shootings are nothing less than a tragedy, no matter when or where it is that they occur. When school shootings happen, many people all around stop a say a short prayer or send donations to the families affected or even re-evaluate the way they are living their lives. During the past two weeks, two school shootings have taken place in my home town. You hear about school shootings happening, but none truly effect you the same way as it does when they happen in the very place where you were born and raised. I was shocked to hear that the middle school just across the highway from my home was the site for one of the shootings. I have heard about colleges and high schools having shootings, but never before a middle school. I remember being that age and never having considered even getting into a fight at school, much less shooting someone. It wasn't even a tiny thought in my immature little brain.

I was in such disbelief that it occurred in a middle school that I just knew that it wasn't likely to hear about that happening repeatedly too often. Much to my surprise (again), I came across an article entitled "Elementary Teacher Allegedly Shoots Principal" while browsing around on www.edweek.org. The article told of how a fourth-grade teacher in Knoxville, TN was being charged with shooting the principal and assistant principal of their employed school several times ("Elementary teacher allegedly," 2010). The fourth-grade teacher, Mark Foster, was already under the scope for previous skeptical actions. Reference to his skeptical actions included acting as "two different people" at times, anonymous e-mails claiming that he was a "ticking time bomb", a letter on file from his mother saying how he had threatened to kill both himself and his employer, and students requesting to get out of his class because he was hateful ("Elementary teacher allegedly," 2010). They held an investigation concerning Foster's actions, but the case was dismissed because there was no proof of him violating any school policies. There had been some preliminary discussion of having a security officer present at the meeting between Foster and the principals, where they informed him that they were not going to be renewing his contract for the next school year ("Elementary teacher allegedly," 2010). Although both victims are still alive, what happened was still devastating and unnecessary. Who would have imagined that the meeting would have evolved the way it did?

As a future teacher, all of this leaves me a little intimidated. Although the chances of this happening can occur any occupational field, the stories of it happening in my future occupation send chills down my spine.


Elementary teacher allegedly shoots principle. (2010, February 12). Teacher Magazine, Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2010/02/12/teachershootsprincipal_ap.html?r=533154395