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City school leader responds to Orlando attack & effects on children

WBFO News photo by Eileen Buckley

The leader of the Buffalo School District is concerned effects the Orlando tragedy will have on children. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash is encouraging education as a tool to 'change and heal'.  

"What it means to live in a global society, that’s the issue. We don’t live in a closed off city, we live in a global community,” said Cash.

Superintendent Cash issued a statement to the city school community.  He stated the 'horrific act' in Orlando impacts every American, especially the nation's youth, who might be exposed to bullying or retaliations after crimes like this take place.

On Monday, Cash told principals to be proactive at their schools, reminding them of the Dignity for All Students Act.

“We’ve had, you know, a number of gut-wrenching incidents like this in our nation recently and so there are quite a few sources by a number of specialists and experts that have been put out that help children of all ages and adolescents, as teaching tools for teachers and as resources for parents,” Cash explained.  

Superintendent Cash tells WBFO News he actually believes Buffalo does far better with its ever increasing diverse population of immigrant and refugee students then other parts of the nation.

“An All-American City – and that really means all-American, that’s been my feeling, I’ve only been here a year, but our schools are extraordinarily diverse, our parent groups are diverse, so I think that the young people are experienced in working with each other and at levels of not only tolerance, but acceptance,” noted Cash.

The city superintendent is encouraging teachers to engage students in classroom discussions, if ‘age-appropriate’, about the recent incident to discuss the current events.  Cash is calling for the school community to champions what he says is the ‘peaceful life’ that comes with a ‘well-educated mind’.    

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