Killing of Amish Girls (A Think)

I wondered whether or not I should write about the killing of five girls, serious wounding of five other girls, and suicide of the male killer, in an Amish school. Then I thought that our students likely know about this tragedy. So, as teachers we should think about how to discuss it with them. Furthermore, we can learn some important values from the Amish. A New York Times article entitled Police Describe Gunman's Plan in School Siege states:

The police were also investigating Mr. Roberts’s assertion that he had molested relatives when he was 12, but had been unable to corroborate it. Moments before he opened fire, Mr. Roberts told his wife, Marie, who was leading a prayer meeting at a church, of the sexual assaults. He then told her that he had left four suicide notes at home, Colonel Miller said, one of which described the lingering wounds he had felt since the death of their daughter Elise, who was born prematurely in 1997 and lived only 20 minutes.

Lesson Ideas:
1. According to the article, Mr. Roberts, the killer, was sad and lonely. He lashed out in a horrible way. Many of our students don't know how to handle deep and serious feelings. They don't know what to do when they are sad or lonely. As teachers, it is our job to notice when students have serious issues. But it is also our job to help them learn how to manage their feelings. (At the same time, we must remember that we are not professionals in this area. We should refer situations that concern us to appropriate resources.) But, to help our students learn to manage their feelings, we might simply ask students for ideas as to what they can do when they are sad, when they are lonely, when they feel down. We can have students teach each other. (Throughout my life I have often felt incapable...I remember during one stage of my life each evening I recounted ten things that I had accomplished during the day. This recounting helped be gain confidence in my own capability.)
2. Very shortly after the killings, the Amish people realized that not only had their world been affected, but the killer's family had suffered terribly, as well. They brought over food to the family's home. Ask students what it means to forgive. Ask them if they think it's possible to forgive a killer? Ask them if they think a killer should be forgiven? You might ask students to write a thought-piece on this question. They might even blog it. Encourage them to share their ideas with one another.
3. The Amish are truly a unique group of people within the United States. They don't use electricity. Ask students to pretend that they are Amish people. What might it be like to live life without any electricity. Students might develop skits. You might even vodcast these skits.
4. Most students have seen films and read books that contained scenes of murder. Perhaps, if books and films did not have these scenes in them there would be less murder in society? Ask students if they think this is correct. Facilitate a conversation in your class as to the extent to which popular media influences behavior in society? What should society do in response to these influences?
5. You can learn more about the Amish people here.

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