This isn’t exactly a NEWS story but it’s a story full of goodness and hope. I found it as public Facebook post belonging to a high school teacher who I do not know personally. I hope she doesn’t mind me sharing it here. (It had over 13, 000 fb shares.) Her story made me cry in the best way.
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“Today was really hard for me. Today was the first time I had to teach the day after a mass school shooting. I dreaded facing my students this morning, and as the first students walked in, I began to feel the anxiety pooling in my stomach. I was dreading one, specific question. Soon after class began, a freshman asked me the question I had been dreading since I had heard about the tragedy in Florida.
“Mrs. Schimmoeller,” she asked. “What will we do if a shooter comes in your room?”
My stomach sank. I launched into my pre-planned speech about our plan of action. Then, I knew I had to say the harder part: “I want you to know that I care deeply about each and every one of you and that I will do everything I can to protect you. But – being in a wheelchair, I will not be able to protect you the way an able-bodied teacher will. And if there is a chance for you to escape, I want you to go. Do not worry about me. Your safety is my number one priority.”
Slowly, quietly, as the words I had said sunk in, another student raised their hand. She said, “Mrs. Schimmoeller, we already talked about it. If anything happens, we are going to carry you.”
I lost it. With tears in my eyes as I type this, I want my friends and family to know that I understand that it is hard to find the good in the world, especially after a tragedy like the one that we have watched unfold, but there is good. True goodness. It was found in the hearts of my students today.”
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Got good news? Please feel free to share!
Anything is Possible! 
February 20, 2018 at 3:07 am
Wonderful response, but we all know this should not be exercising the schoolroom
February 20, 2018 at 9:03 am
You are right, Derrick. It’s sad and wrong that they have to worry about this.
February 20, 2018 at 10:59 am
After reading I have tears in my eyes, too. Thank you for sharing this story with us.
February 20, 2018 at 8:30 pm
I felt compelled to share it. Thank you for reading.
February 20, 2018 at 11:07 pm
Yes! Students, children and teens are caring for each other and wishing the world would change, too. This was such a very nice story of students who are open and caring. ❤️
February 21, 2018 at 5:27 pm
Thanks, Robin. I wish they didn’t have to think about these things, but I am inspired by the caring.
March 20, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Interesting, thanks 🙂
March 20, 2018 at 5:54 pm
You are very welcome.
March 20, 2018 at 6:05 pm
Thank you for your comment. I tried to comment on your Chernobyl art post but was unable to do so. So here it is: Beautiful art! The fact that it’s in a place of devastation makes it even more beautiful. I recently shared a story about people trying to help the dogs left behind in Chernobyl: https://joannaoftheforest.wordpress.com/2018/03/13/for-the-dogs-two-stories-of-compassion/