It's been nearly three weeks since a teenage gunman opened fire inside Oxford High School, killing four students. In the days and weeks following the tragedy, educators have faced the challenge of talking to students as they try to make sense of what happened on November 30.

It may be the toughest topic any of them have had to cover.

WFNT logo
Get our free mobile app

Students Want to Talk About the Tragedy at Oxford

Mike Conrad is a teacher at Royal Oakland High School. He tells PBS News Hour that he finds having open discussions with his students is key.

"Students want to talk about it. They want to voice their opinions about it. They're being very smart about it. They are having pretty profound conversations. They're following facts. They're not following the social media hype or rumors."

Conrad says that what the national news isn't covering is the fact that the Oxford school shooting has a profound impact on students in surrounding communities.

"The story that's not out there, and I think a lot of people don't know about, is the story of the surrounding communities and how an event like Oxford High School's shooting is affecting more than Oxford."

Randy Stewart teaches at Fraser High School and echos Conrad's thoughts, saying

"The easiest way for me to process this is not to ignore it, but just to full steam ahead in regards to what my job is here."

Students Are Paying More Attention to Kids in Other Social Groups

Dorothea Williams-Arnold, a teacher at Cass Technical High School, says the tragedy has shown her students the importance of including classmates who sometimes are considered loners.

We have talked a lot about how important it is for them to help each other feel safe by paying attention to those loner students or the ones who are a little bit more quiet," Williams-Arnold said. "We had some group activities going on this week, and I noticed they seemed to be a little bit more open to paying attention to those kids who didn't have a group, who weren't selected for their own group."

 

Take a Peek Inside Flint's Highest Rated Airbnb

Check Out This 50s Themed Airbnb in Michigan

Here's a chance to step back in time to the days of poodle skirts, bobby socks, and saddle shoes.

This home in Frankenmuth features a cool 50s diner theme but also has some nice, modern touches -- like TV, WiFi, and indoor plumbing -- to make guests feel comfortable during their stay.

Check it out.

Check Out All These Kid-Friendly Museums in Michigan

Whether you're looking for local children's museum where you can take the kiddos for an afternoon, or looking for an excuse to take a road trip to another part of the state, Michigan offers a wide selection of kid-friendly museums where you and the family can lose yourselves.

More From WFNT