In Wake of Virginia Tech Shootings, NEA Calls for Decisive Action to Protect Students and School Employees

Washington—A shooting rampage on the campus of Virginia Tech University on Monday left 33 students and faculty dead and dozens injured, making this the deadliest school shooting incident in U.S. history.

The following statement can be attributed to Reg Weaver, president of NEA:

"We join our student members at Virginia Tech in mourning the deaths of their friends and instructors. We are shocked at this tragedy and we are deeply concerned for everyone in the Virginia Tech community. We will keep the families of the slain students and faculty members and the entire Virginia Tech student body, faculty, and staff in our thoughts and prayers. The hours and days ahead will be tough as they face the aftermath of this horrific tragedy and begin to try to cope with their tremendous losses.

"As Americans, we must have zero tolerance for violence in our institutions of higher learning, and we must—as a society—take the steps necessary to make school campuses and other education environments safe from violence and guns. Everyone has a role to play—elected officials, community and student leaders, and educators. Monday's shootings really underscore the importance of decisive action to address the issue of guns and violence in our society. It is clear that none of us are safe from these random acts. Developing realistic strategies to address this increasing threat is imperative and one of the ways that we can honor the memory of those who have lost their lives on America's school campuses across the nation."

As part of its membership, the National Education Association has 70 student members of the Virginia Tech chapter of the Student Virginia Education Association-NEA.

Expert tips to help schools, teachers, parents and students cope with the aftereffects of this crisis are available online at www.nea.org/crisis/index.html.