Teaching students about contemporary history involves covering various social, cultural, and political events, including the often-sensitive topic of mass shootings. One such case is that of James Holmes, the convicted shooter in the 2012 Aurora, Colorado movie theater massacre. This article will provide guidance on how to teach students about James Holmes while maintaining a safe, respectful, and constructive learning environment.
Setting the Stage
1. Establish a safe space: Begin by clarifying your intentions in discussing James Holmes and emphasizing that students should feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and asking questions. Encourage empathy and understanding for different points of view.
2. Provide context: Before diving into specifics, introduce relevant background information about the incident and its aftermath. Explain who James Holmes is, his motivations, trial procedure, and sentencing.
Navigating the Discussion
3. Connect with broader themes: Teach students to recognize patterns across similar cases by discussing other mass shootings within the United States or internationally. Discuss factors like gun control policies, mental health issues, media portrayal, and societal reactions to these incidents.
4. Encourage critical thinking: As you cover factual details related to James Holmes and the Aurora Shooting, facilitate opportunities for students to think critically about themes such as ethics, morality, and justice. For example, engage them in debate over whether or not his mental health should have impacted his sentencing or strategies for effectively preventing future attacks.
5. Incorporate diverse perspectives: Include excerpts from news articles, editorial opinions from various sides of the political spectrum or individuals impacted by mass shootings to expose students to varied opinions on this subject matter.
6. Addressing emotions: Discourse on sensitive topics like mass shootings can evoke strong emotions in a classroom setting. Be sympathetic to students’ feelings and be prepared to offer emotional support should they become distressed.
7. Emphasize prevention and response: Encourage students to consider proactive steps they can take as individuals and as a society to address the issue of mass shootings. Explore concepts like promoting mental health awareness, advocating for stricter gun control policies, and educating communities on appropriate responses to active shooter situations.
