School shootings

At Staples, we have the opportunity to delve into many unique courses of study. Latin American, differential equations, Mandarin Chinese, caribbean literature, forensics: you name it, it’s likely we have it.

And yet, why is it that when we look out the window, the truths of the world are still a foggy mystery to us?
As students, we come to school to be educated, to learn about the world around us and our place within it.

However, in a community that is so focused on success and attaining it through whatever means possible, we are often not educated about the things that matter, the things we come to school to learn about. Our education is interesting, for sure, but it might not be the best education for us, for our futures.

We want to learn about the world most of us will be venturing into in no less than a year. Instead of being educated, however, we are sheltered in our Westport bubble.
Of course, sheltering us is easier than educating. But that’s not necessarily what’s best for us.

Just two weeks ago, when there were bomb threats at Fairfield Warde, we were told nothing. Our information came from distressed parents, social media and the mouths of other kids. There was not so much as a mention of the event in the classroom.

On a more grave level, when 26 innocent people were massacred 40 minutes away in Newtown, all we got was a short announcement. That was the extent.

We have a finite amount of time at Staples, and after we graduate, we are supposed to be ready to be citizens of the world. But we can’t help but wonder: how are we supposed to take the world head on if our education system refuses to inform us about the truths of it?

We understand that there is no easy way to deal with tragedy and not every teacher is armed with the skills of a social worker. However, all we’re asking for is for the reality of the world to be addressed, both the good and the bad, what’s inside our town, and outside.