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Weekly News Round-Up for February 16th
posted by: Melissa | February 16, 2018, 07:39 PM   

Each week, AAE brings its members a round-up of what’s happening in education. From big, eye-catching headlines to the stories most papers overlook, we find the news our members really want to see. This week, we’re looking hard at Florida, guns, and violence in schools.


One of the Deadliest School Shootings: Wednesday saw one of the deadliest school shootings in American history. On Wednesday, a 19 year-old former student entered the grounds of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, pulled a fire alarm, and then began shooting students and staff, leaving 17 dead. According to reports, this shooting did not come out of the blue. The school’s staff, local police, and even the F.B.I. had been notified of the potential danger that the student posed to the community. It appears that the student had a history of mental illness and may have said that he was led to carry out the attack by voices in his head. Like many schools across the country, Stoneman Douglas had prepared for such an event by tightening security, training staff, and holding mass shooting drills.


The Fallout Begins: This shooting is just one of many, yet it has captured national attention because of its brutality. As the news of the shooting hit national airwaves, people around the country were quick to respond. While everyone was outraged, people responded in different ways. Some people were quick to organize a GoFundMe account for the victims. President Trump addressed the nation, speaking out for greater mental health care, and plans to travel to Parkland, FL today. Some are yet again bringing up the issues of allowing teachers to carry guns in schools.


Not the Only Violence: As violent as the shooting in Florida was, it was far from the only incident in the country’s schools this week. Thursday brought about a swath of attempted copy-cat shootings, which caused schools across the country to be on heightened alert. These were accompanied by what is becoming normal for schools, news reports from several schools of students being arrested for bringing guns to schools or schools being placed on lockdown for perceived threats. Larger threats this week include a teenager who planned a mass shooting in a school chosen by a random coin toss. The teenager was arrested on Tuesday, after his grandmother learned of his plan. In New York, a former teacher and his brother used students to help create bombs, presumably for a planned bomb attack on a school.


Happening Elsewhere:

Iowa House education leader gives up on school 'voucher' plan -- for this year

Snyder signs law to allow charter schools to receive tax revenue

'In God We Trust' Bill Wins Introduction in Wyoming House

Details of St. Paul teachers' contract are disclosed

Crossing A Fault Line, Teachers At Two Boston Charter Schools Join Union

In Houston, outrage over a school arrest that landed a student in immigration detention

US teacher dies after opting out of 'costly' flu medicine


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