A Columbine reference eerily appears in today’s class reading.
We’re discussing how to teach analytical writing—going beyond recounting, adding original, evidence-based conclusions that inform, uncover, and expand our own thinking, and hopefully public discourse.
The book’s author, Kelly Gallagher, uses Dave Cullen’s 2009 account of the Columbine massacre as an exemplar for his students, illustrating how the author “moved past simply telling what happened by delving into why the tragedy unfolded the way it did.”
He goes on to note how the shock-jock reporting and lack of rigorous analysis that followed the shooting has led to years of misconceptions about the tragedy, its perpetrators, and its causes.
The next few days will do the same. Teachers, writers—this is why we exist. How could any of us teach about anything else today?
Please see the following resources on addressing the Orlando tragedy at your school.
– A National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope
– How to Discuss National Tragedies with Kids
– Addressing the Orlando Shooting at Your School
Chris Chang-Bacon 