MAC Statement: School Shooting in Parkland, FL

Below is a statement released by MAC’s Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative at Harvard Law School (TLPI)* in regards to the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School last week.

In the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida we have been humbled by the outpouring of care and concern expressed by many. As we all grapple with the magnitude of this tragedy, we wanted to share a few pieces that relate to the importance of creating safe and supportive schools for all students.

Late last week, in an email sent to the Framingham (MA) Public Schools staff, Superintendent Bob Tremblay stated “I believe that we need to double-down on our relationships with students if we truly want to keep our schools safe and secure.” The Superintendent goes on to emphasize the importance of both building strong relationships with students and the importance of connection for students.

In an interview with WBUR last week, TLPI Director Susan Cole discussed the importance of Safe and Supportive Schools for all students and the work that the Safe and Supportive Schools Commission is doing in Massachusetts to help create such learning environments across the Commonwealth. To hear the story, please click here.

During this difficult time, many parents and educators are searching for resources to help guide discussion and to help support students in the aftermath of this tragedy. We wanted to share a resource from the National Association of School Psychologists which provides helpful guidance in structuring conversations around this difficult time. Please click here for a printable version of the document.

As we continue to process this tragedy, we remain committed to being a voice for children and thank you for partnering with us in that cause. We are inspired by the courageous young people of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School who have suffered so much but are turning their grief into political action. We stand with them in their efforts to make significant changes in the laws that will help keep children all over the country, including Massachusetts, safe.

Massachusetts Advocates for Children

*TLPI was launched in 2004 with a mission to ensure that children impacted by family violence and other adverse childhood experiences succeed in school. TLPI’s work has included advocating for the Safe and Supportive Schools Law, which established a statewide safe and supportive schools framework to assist schools to create safe and supportive learning environments that improve educational outcomes for students. The law was passed as part of the omnibus Act Relative to the Reduction of Gun Violence.