No Guns In Schools Ever
(Last Sunday, February 25th, the following letter was placed in the New York Times)
Heads of School Against Gun Violence: An Open Letter to the President and Our Nation’s Legislative Leaders
As Heads of Independent Schools in the New York City metropolitan area and across New York State, responsible for the education and physical safety of tens of thousands of children, we are heartbroken over the recent massacre in Parkland, Florida. We stand in support of the Parkland survivors and their efforts to effect change.
It was five years ago last month we wrote following the massacre at Newtown, Connecticut. Sadly, we have seen too many school shootings since cut short too many innocent lives with little to no change in gun laws. But the horrific dimensions of the Parkland tragedy are so profound that we are compelled to rise up again and say, “Enough!” As the recent events in Parkland and the scenes of other mass shootings teach us, the easy and virtually unrestricted availability of highly lethal, semiautomatic assault weapons and ammunition places our schools in jeopardy, most especially our children.
We implore you, Mr. President and our national legislative leaders, to do everything necessary to stem this tide of senseless gun violence. Address, and ultimately deny, unrestricted access to weapons and ammunition that have no legitimate sporting or recreational purpose. Recognize that the proliferation of military-grade guns and assault-style ammunition leads to more gun violence and more gun deaths. The statistics are compelling and cannot be ignored.
The United States leads the world in the number of guns per capita; it leads in homicides, suicides and accidental deaths involving guns; and it leads the world in the number of children killed by guns, every year. In these grim statistical categories, no nation comes close to our level of violence and gun-related death. The United States of America can and must do better.
Now is the time to take action. As educators, we believe in the United States Constitution. We also believe our country need not choose between the protection of responsible gun ownership and the prevention of gun violence and that both can be achieved through thoughtful and forceful legislation.
Never before have so many Independent School leaders in our region spoken with one voice on behalf of a single issue. We are moved to do so out of a duty to our students and all of our nation’s children and we find inspiration in the voices and actions of the students who are refusing to go about business as usual. We stand ready to help in this effort, and encourage our colleagues leading schools across the country to join us. Above all, we demand that reason and compassion prevail.
We are Heads of schools serving children from nursery through high school. We are Republicans, Democrats and Independents. We are parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles. We are responsible for the education, safety and welfare of children each and every day, and we know the time for action is now.
Respectfully,
Heads of Independent Schools (Alphabetical Order)
Concepcion Alvar, Marymount School of New York
Jessica Bagley, Ethical Culture Fieldston School
John Baldi, Vincent Smith School
Bart Baldwin, St. Luke’s School
Audrius Barzdukas, Poly Prep Country Day School
Mimi Basso, West Side Montessori School
Alan Bernstein, Lawrence Woodmere Academy
Jennifer Best, All Souls School
John Botti, Browning School
Micaela Bracanonti, The Lang School,
Susan Braun, Waldorf School of Garden City
Body Brizendine, Spence School
John Buck, Long Island Lutheran
Paul Burke, Nightingale-Bamford School
Frank J. Carnabuci III, Birch Wathen Lenox School
Br. Brian Carty, De La Salle Academy
Drew Casertano, Millbrook School
Maria Castelluccio, Léman Manhattan Preparatory School
Ken Catrone, Soundview Preparatory School
Benedict Chant, Poughkeepsie Day School
Raizi Chechik, Manhattan Day School
Ward Chory, Harley School
Joseph J. Ciancaglini, Convent of the Sacred Heart
David S. Ciancimino, Canisius High School
Chad Cianfrani, Oakwood Friends School
John Cissel, Harbor Country Day School
Pam Clarke, Doane Stuart School
Donna Cohen, International Preschools
Virginia Connor, St. Hilda’s and St. Hugh’s School
Angela Coombs, Academy of St. Joseph
Melissa Dan, School of the Holy Child
Laura Danforth, Masters School
Eileen Davidson, The Ursuline School
George P. Davison, Grace Church School
James Dawson, Professional Children’s School
William DeHaven, Winston Preparatory School
Andre del Valle, George Jackson Academy
Bruce L. Dennis, Packer Collegiate Institute
Fr. Christopher Devron, Fordham Preparatory School
Jesse Dougherty, Green Vale School
Diane Drew, Dwight School
Ariela Dubler, Abraham Joshua Heschel School
David Eglof, Corlears School
Caroline Erisman, Cornelia Connelly Center
Gina Farrar, Blue School
Charles Fasano, Bay Ridge Preparatory School
Tony Featherston, Town School
Jane Fried, Brearley School
Michael Frosch, Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School
Scott Gaynor, Stephen Gaynor School
Patricia Geyer, Long Island School for the Gifted
Nancy Glauberman, Barrow Street Nursery School
Evan Glazer, Avenues New York
Felicia Gordon, The Brownstone School
Laura Graceffa, Robert C. Parker School
Laura Graham, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church Day School
Martha Haakmat, Brooklyn Heights Montessori School
Matthew Heard, Dutchess Day School
George Higgins, The Beekman School
David Hochschartner, North Country School
Simon Holzapfel, Darrow School
Adrian Hood, Woodstock Day School
Stuart Johnson, St. Bernard’s School
Jean-Marc Juhel, Buckley Country Day School
Danny Karpf, Rodeph Sholom School
Phil Kassen, Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School
Eve Kleger, Village Community School
William Knauer, Harvey School
Tara Christie Kursey, Hewitt School
Jonathan Lamb, Storm King School
Christopher Lauricella, Park School of Buffalo
Lee Levison, Collegiate School
Rabbi Avi Levitt, Magen David Yeshivah High School
Sharon Lickerman, Resurrection Episcopal Day School
Jed Lippard, Bank Street School for Children
Sean Lynch, Lycée Français de New York
Colm MacMahon, Rippowam Cisqua School
Carla MacMullen, Kew-Forest School
Timothy P. Madigan, Churchill School and Center
Helen L. Marlette, Buffalo Seminary
TreeAnne McEnery, Green Meadow Waldorf School
Brenda Mizel, Metropolitan Montessori School
Scott Moran, City and Country School
Kim Morcate, Rockland Country Day School
Nicole Nash, Hannah Senesh Community Day School
Eve Nealy, Westbury Friends School
Marsha Nelson, Cathedral School of St. John the Divine
Scott Nelson, Rye Country Day School
Douglas North, Albany Academies
Virginia O’Brien, Notre Dame School of Manhattan
Michael O’Donoghue, Holy Child Academy
David O’Halloran, Saint David’s School
Greg O’Melia, Buckley School
Tony Oroszlany, Loyola School
Maria Palendra, La Scuola D’Italia Guglielmo Marconi
Susan Paynter, High Meadow School
Joel Peinado, French-American School of New York
Kevin Pendergast, Kildonan School
Margaret Poggi, LearningSpring School
Jenny Rao, Emma Willard School
Jack Raslowsky, Xavier High School
Amani Reed, School at Columbia University
Jim Regan, Martin Luther School
Scott Reisinger, Trevor Day School
Jean Rosenberg, Chelsea Day School
Janet Rotter, Studio School
John Russell, The Windward School
Carolyn Salzman, The Gateway School
Joe Santos, International School of Brooklyn
Diane Schlessinger, Greene Hill School
Susan Sheahan, Episcopal School
Karen Smith, Smith School
Steven Solnick, Calhoun School
Jeffrey Spade, Rudolf Steiner School
Lydia Spinelli, Brick Church School
Todd Stansbery, Tuxedo Park School
Ellen Stein, Dalton School
William W. Taylor, Trinity-Pawling School
Michael Termini, Cooke School and Institute
Vince Thompkins, Saint Ann’s School
Leslie Thorne, Parkside School
Kristen Tillona, Knox School
Barbara Tischler, S The peyer Legacy School
David R. Trower, Allen-Stevenson School
Salvador Uy, United Nations International School
Patti Vitale, Brown School
Bob Vitalo, Berkeley Carroll School
David Vitow, North Shore Hebrew Academy High School
Larry Weiss, Brooklyn Friends School
Janet Wolfe, IDEAL School
Debbie Zlotowitz, Mary McDowell Friends School
The overwhelming support for this issue by schools in New York is obvious. Please note Dr. Termini’s support in the list of schools. We are proud to support this initiative.
Click here to check out MSNBCs reaction (at about 1:50sec.)
However the issue of gun violence is not going away. I must admit that after the last shooting in Florida I was almost immune to a response. I was not phased or horrified, I was instead just numb. How did I get to this point? The amount of gun violence in the country is having its effect and taking its toll on students.
We cannot simply accept this horror and every time it happens we must react as if it was the first time. In school our counselors and staff are trained to help students digest the news, and help them to understand the issues. We do everything to reassure them that they are safe and will remain so at school. Here are a few good resources to help navigate the information with your children:
Our safety procedures are constantly being updated and rethought. We have a good security system in place and staff are trained in lock downs and ensuring safety. Unfortunately we have to think about the worst in every situation. We are exceptionally concerned with keeping our kids safe.
Luv Michael
If you are not familiar with Luv Michael, take a moment to watch this video…
I recently visited the Luv Michael kitchen to see one of our own graduates who is now a professional Granologist. Watching our graduate work and produce an amazing product was inspiring. Even more inspiring was the environment that Lisa Liberatore has created for people with special need providing education, social activities, and employment.
Luv Michael was set up to produce an organic, nut-free, gluten-free granola produced, packaged and shipped by adults with special needs. In recognition that some folks with autism spectrum disorder need accommodations, Lisa Liberatore set up a situation for a successful workplace where students are independent in their work. She provides classes (taught by a special education teacher) related to food service. She has also set up plenty of social activities after work for her employees. What she has done is create the perfect working environment for our graduates (or any one quite frankly) which guarantees their success.
Given the dire numbers for employment for those with special needs, Lisa has found a way to challenge that statistic. On my visit I saw adults who not only took great pride in what they were doing, they wanted more. As of now the operation can only support a 2 day per week operation.
This is the vision of one mom. Imagine if we all got involved. Imagine this business model expanding and began to hire dozens of graduates. Luv Michael is looking for ways to work with Cooke. They have (as have many organizations) stated that our students are among the best prepared for work after graduation.
The company is getting lots of attention, it’s all over the news. Learn more here or click here to visit the website.
L to R: Francis Tabone, Lisa Lipatore (founder), Robert M. (General Manager), Bobby Flay (Chef)
How can we help?
Buy the product. Go to Luvmichael.org and order or go to D’agastino, Fresh and Co. or select Starbucks to purchase. They just won a Jet Blue award so if you fly, you may see the product as a snack on the flight. Do you work in a corporate office that provides snacks? Why not order from Luv Michaels? The more orders the more employees.
Finally – It is delicious. Seriously. It’s healthy, organic – all the good stuff. Let’s help to spread the word. It means opportunity for our students.
Cooke Alum Sam Antar hard at work!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS…
