Returning To Class The Morning After Massacre Summary
In the article ‘Returning to class the morning after a massacre’ in The Atlantic, Alia Wong examined the reasons behind a school district’s decision to resume classes immediately after the Las Vegas mass shooting. Wong observed that children are especially vulnerable to trauma caused by acts of community violence. It was suggested that traumatic events may have the following effects on children:
• • Anger
• Anxiety
• Despair
• Paralysis
• Rage
• Self-blame
The author explained that resuming classes provided a sense of normalcy, stability and structure which helped to alleviate these effects. There was comfort in being around familiar people and following a routine. Furthermore, there are school staff who knew the children and are trained