Tragedy in Connecticut  

 

This special edition of NAREA's monthly e-newsletter seeks to deepen our solidarity as people bound in the service of education. For many of us, school is a way of living life, thus the trauma of 12-14-12 is felt with wrenching grief and wrenching familiarity. Here, we hold the words of President Obama and of our colleagues in Reggio Emilia as possible beacons for reconnecting with the courage and resolve to go forward in our calling. May we all express a "powerful nostalgia for the future," in the words of Malaguzzi.

 

Excerpt From President Obama's Address   

 

There's only one thing we can be sure of, and that is the love that we have for our children, for our families, for each other.  The warmth of a small child's embrace, that is true. 

 

The memories we have of them, the joy that they bring, the wonder we see through their eyes, that fierce and boundless love we feel for them, a love that takes us out of ourselves and binds us to something larger, we know that's what matters.

 

We know we're always doing right when we're taking care of them, when we're teaching them well, when we're showing acts of kindness. We don't go wrong when we do that.

 

That's what we can be sure of, and that's what you, the people of Newtown, have reminded us. That's how you've inspired us. You remind us what matters. And that's what should drive us forward in everything we do for as long as God sees fit to keep us on this Earth.

 

"Let the little children come to me," Jesus said, "and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

 

Charlotte, Daniel, Olivia, Josephine, Ana, Dylan, Madeline, Catherine, Chase, Jesse, James, Grace, Emilie, Jack, Noah, Caroline, Jessica, Benjamin, Avielle, Allison, God has called them all home.

 

For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on and make our country worthy of their memory.

 

A Message From Reggio Children 

 

Dear all,

It is with a great deal of sadness in our hearts that we feel it is important to write to you.  We think it is important for us to participate with you and all our American colleagues in this painful moment of our life.

This is a moment that touches us very closely because it is about children, about human beings, about values and life.  We all have the right to have a life, a good life, and we all have invested in education, in the present and the future of the society, in order to increase a common commitment that wants to have the aim to give more quality to all our lives.
 
When we heard in the news what happened in Connecticut, we could not believe it.
What a terrible and horrible tragedy!  Nothing can give a reason to such a huge crime.  Life was interrupted with brutality in a school where children, parents and teachers had the pleasure to be together and to learn about life. 

 

With this short note we would like to communicate to you our solidarity and our participation in this dramatic grief.  We kindly ask you to share this short note with all the ones you know because, considering our historical collaboration, we would like you all to feel we are taking part in this endless sad moment the US is encountering.

With deep affection,

Carla Rinaldi, Amelia Gambetti, Emanuela Vercalli, Paola Riccò, Sara Porpora, Sara Annigoni and all your Reggio Emilia colleagues and friends
 
Reggio Children and Fondazione Reggio Children - Centro Loris Malaguzzi

 

Share With the NAREA Board 

 

The NAREA board would like to hear from members their ideas, thoughts and suggestions for what we, as an organization, have the opportunity to contribute in this moment.  We welcome you to reply to this message with your thoughts.