sigh
What a day. I have never seen anything like it. Last night a student from our school was shot and killed in Gary over what appears either gang activity or a drug deal. This student was expelled in the fall, but knew many of our kids, was friends with them and dated quite a few of the girls. They kids found out about 9am this morning and about 25 kids went straight into hysterics. They were thinking about relatives dying, their friend dying, some felt guilty they didn't save him, some were afraid because they are involved with the same people. It was totally crazy. I had to swtich classrooms so I could be closer to the yellow team to monitor. As a result of this, we had kids talking revenge and guns and killing. We had 6 fights in the 7th grade. They kid that died was a 8th grader. We had many many many beginnings of fights over he said and she said. One kid said "I'm glad he's dead." and of course that kid was going to be killed by the others. You cannot say that type of thing out loud around those that are grieving. If you really feel that way, say it to your friends AWAY from the other students. I spent my morning picking students up off the floor and directing this to "grief" rooms where guidance too ONE HOUR to arrive. I monitored my room, a second class and the hall while the teacher of the other class called parents of those wailing and crying and monitored the "grief" room. I am exhausted and drained. I don't know this kid and all I have heard that is that he was bad news, but I feel terrible for the students that knew him and have to deal with this type of grief so early in life. Hopefully some good will come from it and those involved in this crap will find a way to get new friends and remove themselves from it.