Mrs. Bush's Remarks at a
Conference on School Safety
National 4-H Youth Conference Center
Chevy Chase, Maryland
11:57 A.M. EDT
11:57 A.M. EDT
MRS. BUSH: Thank you, Secretary Spellings. I want to recognize our Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales. Good to see you here. I understand the Lieutenant Governor from Colorado is here, as well, the Honorable Jane Norton. Thank you for joining us.
Parents, teachers, school officials, law enforcement officers, community leaders -- thank you all very, very much for joining us today for this very important discussion for our country.
The recent school shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are terrible tragedies. The communities affected by these attacks, and all Americans who have been devastated by school violence, have the support and the prayers of families across our country.
Today, we've gathered to discuss how the federal government, local governments and community leaders can prevent similar attacks, and help comfort the victims of shootings that have just occurred.
For those who have experienced the trauma of school violence, especially children, healing will require the support and the care of many people. Parents, grandparents, teachers, school counselors, coaches and pastors must listen to children's concerns, reassure young people that they're loved, and let them know that grownups are working to protect them.
Acts of school violence are not isolated incidents. Reports of one school shooting can disturb children and teachers in classrooms around the country. Children can't learn if they're worried about their safety, which is why adults must do everything they can to reassure children through their own actions.
When young people see grownups going about their lives with confidence, they'll draw strength from the adults' example. Activities like preparedness drills help ease children's fears of a possible attack by giving them the knowledge they need to protect themselves if one should occur.
And as we saw in the aftermath of September 11th and Hurricane Katrina, children who have endured trauma heal best when chaos is replaced with the normalcy and the comfort of their familiar routine, both at home and at school.
Full Transcript
