From
the Office of Student and Community Services, Department of
Student Services
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Rockville, Maryland
The following information may
prove useful as you help students cope with difficult
situations.
Reactions may vary in nature and severity
from student to student, based on age, temperament, personality
and previous experience. These are normal reactions to an
abnormal situation. Because of our recent experiences with
September 11, members of our school communities may be especially
susceptible to violence related stress. Regardless of differences,
there are some commonalities that exist in how students and
staff feel when their lives are disrupted by random acts of
violence in the community.
Random acts of violence may trigger
feelings of vulnerability or loss of control in individuals
of all ages. Structure and routine help bring comfort and
a sense of safety.
The response to random community violence
often necessitates a change in routine which students may
find disruptive or unsettling. Try to return to a normal school
routine as quickly as possible, for familiar routines are
reassuring.
It is normal for people of all ages
to react to violent incidents with fear for their own safety.
They may be intensely worried about what will happen to them.
Young children and those students whose lives have been directly
affected by the incidents may be especially focused on safety
concerns. It is important to provide repeated reassurance
regarding safety.
- Regressed behaviors
- Irritability and agitation
- Anger, aggression, tantrums
- Clinginess
- Poor concentration
- Withdrawal from friends and activities
or an increased need for contact with friends and family
- Sleep difficulties, including nightmares
and bedwetting
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- Physical complaints such as headaches
and stomachaches, loss of appetite
- Poor school performance
- Withdrawal from friends or an intensive
desire to be only with friends
- Sleep disturbances
- Increased frustration, anger and/or conflict
with parents and peers
- Regressed behavior
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- Agitation
- Lack of energy
- Lessened interest in peers or an intense
desire to be only with peers
- Irresponsible or delinquent behavior
- Physical complaints
- Sleep disturbances
- Eating difficulties
- Poor concentration
- Frustration, anger or aggression towards
parents or peers
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- Share the facts in a calm and caring
manner.
- Provide a vehicle for expressing fears
and anxiety, such as journal writing or drawing.
- Ensure that the information you give
is appropriate to the developmental level and is stated
in a vocabulary the child(ren) can understand.
- Clarify misconceptions and restate information
as necessary.
- Allow opportunities to talk about the
situation. Listen closely to fears and concerns.
- Control panic among your students by
remaining calm yourself.
- Be flexible and allow time in your routine
to address concerns as they arise.
- Reassure students that their emotional
responses are normal responses to an abnormal situation;
to some extent, every one of us is afraid. It’s all
right to be afraid and to talk about it.
- Assure students that many adults are
working together to insure everyone’s safety.
- Ask students what things they have done
in the past to help them through difficult times. List them
and encourage the use of these strategies.
- Talk about how students can support
one another.
- Encourage students to make healthy choices
in what they eat and drink and to allow more time for sleep
and relaxation.
- Tell students that it is okay to turn
off the TV or to change the channel so that they don’t
become overloaded with details of the incident.
- Be alert for students whose reactions
seem especially intense or unusual. Consult with the school
counselor or school psychologist if you have concerns or
questions.
The Montgomery
County Crisis Center is a free resource available 24 hours/7
days each week. Call 240-777-4000.
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