At the beginning of this month we learned that the children of Sandy Hook Elementary School had returned to classes at a neighboring school, Chalk Hill. Even though talk of the Sandy Hook tragedy has dissipated (as we might have expected), many people and various media outlets are still working to keep the conversation going. Next month PBS will do their part by airing a series titled After Newtown, in an attempt to address greater issues such as gun control, school security, and mental illness in America. Click inside to learn more.
Paste Magazine has the story:
According to a report by Entertainment Weekly, PBS has announced plans to air a series of programs examining the aftereffects of the Newtown school shootings.
Titled “After Newtown,” the week-long series—set to run from Feb. 18 to 22— will be spread across a number of PBS shows, including PBS NewsHour, Frontline and Washington Week with Gwen Ifill. In addition, the science series Nova will air a documentary on violence and the brain.
The Frontline report, meanwhile, will focus on Adam Lanza, the man responsible for the massacre. The program will be produced in conjunction with The Hartford Courant.
In a statement, PBS reps said they hope the series will “continue the public conversation” on the topics of gun laws, mental illness and school security.
“PBS is not where you go for breaking news. Where we can add to the conversation is to step back … and say, ‘OK, where are the big issues and where does this take us?’” PBS chief Paula Kerger said during a meeting of the Television Critics Association (TCA).
I’m really looking forward to tuning into these programs, and I hope others will too. Inevitably, those of us who were not directly affected by this tragedy will feel a natural inclination to move on… until the next tragedy occurs. But I’d like to think that Sandy Hook was different, and that some of us will continue to participate in the conversation, and to do our part (big or small) to incite positive change.
You can learn more about these programs here.
i think that we as a country, as a world need to keep talking about the things that are breaking us down.
i like the idea of the M and M (morbidity and mortality) conferences held (usually) weekly at academic hospitals where mistakes and complications that occurred are peer reviewed and new systems/procedures are put in place/tried to correct problems. i think taking this concept to a giant level and have national, thoughtful discussions can do nothing but good. but then, i want to believe that people can and will be the highest forms of themselves that they can….
so, ya. i like that pbs is doing this. if i had a tv id watch the programs.
Thank you for sharing this – will make a note.
I work in a (Canadian) school and I can assure you that talk of the Newtown shootings has not dissipated. Even though a shooting of this magnitude is far less likely to occur in Canada, our Head of School is putting security measures in place that would help prevent an attack or at least minimize the effects. Apparently, though, Sandy Hook had a very good risk management program in place which probably saved lots of lives on that fateful day.
@Vicky – I lived next door to Newtown and the students are at my old middle school, Chalk Hill. Coming from the area, I’ve heard so many stories that are devastating, hopeful and everything in between. We will not forget for a very long time, there is a cloud over our area that has not yet lifted.
That said, I did want to address your comment about SH’s risk management program. They did have drills 2x/year on what to do if a gunman entered the school. One teacher locked her children in closets and cabinets, told the shooter her kids were in the gym, and he shot her dead while her students were locked up. Another teacher refused to open her closet with the children, not until police opened it themselves. Lots of stories like that where training certainly played a big role.
And yet this is still so devastating – a school that has the funds, resources and training to prevent such a disaster, and yet the monstrosity still occurred. Leaves so many questions, hurt and anger behind.
Personal note – my 3 cousins all attended that school until this summer, when they moved to another state. Two of them would have been in those exact classrooms that were attacked, my cousins lost several close friends. The whole event, just tragic. I still get upset everyday.
Kudos to PBS for taking a deeper look at the conversation.