Binghamton Shooting Aftermath: There But For the Grace of God
While some people were busy criticizing Governor Paterson’s comments about the shooting, (for the record, he actually said it was the greatest tragedy and senseless crime in the history of the city, not of the state, as Andrew Malcolm appropriately corrected in his column) more local news continues to filter in and some of it strikes close to home. It turns out that a relative of one of my colleagues is a teacher at the Civic Association and was scheduled to be teaching there on the day of the shooting, but was on vacation. Instead, 72 year old teacher Roberta King filled in for her and wound up losing her life in the tragedy.
A 72-year-old Binghamton woman who taught at the American Civic Association, her family confirmed.
According to fellow instructor Priscilla Pease, King was the substitute teacher in the class the gunman entered Friday.
King was filling in for Elizabeth Hayes, who had taken vacation. That class is typically about 27 students, but Pease believes there were fewer than 27 students in King’s classroom on Friday.
While nothing should diminish the tragedy of the victims who were in the building yesterday, one must wonder about the impact this will have on Mrs. Hayes, who would have been in Ms. King’s place on that fateful day had she not gone on vacation. Personally, I can’t even imagine what that would feel like.
The photograph below is of Bobbie King teaching her class at the Civic Association and comes from the Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin.
opinions powered by SendLove.to
7 Responses to “Binghamton Shooting Aftermath: There But For the Grace of God”
dear Jazz, just an offering to your question for the readers. When I worked post-trauma at COlumbine High School for several years after the massacre, the teachers who were away for the lunch period off campus, the teachers who were on maternity leave and had substitute teachers, etc, on that black day… were beside themselves with grief and love, both, for those who were murdered and maimed (people forget 24 children maimed, some now in wheelchairs for life), for the teachers and children who had to run for their lives or who were trapped in janitor's closets or classrooms for hours. Those who were away, were not really away. Their hearts and souls were one with all that occured, and all had to come to terms with not just what occured that day, but the aftermath of additional insult and injury by media intrusion, grandstanding by carious parties, profound lawsuits hailing down from all directions, 'tourists' of all kinds, including 'religious' who wanted to exploit the situation and make a name for themselves. We had to contend with Pastor Fred at the public memorial with his signs God Hates Columbine. It was a hideous assualt on souls who were already down for the count.
dr.e
I just saw this, Jazz. I had written a post about Andrew Malcolm's quote of Paterson. I put in an update correcting it.
Video of the memorial service for the victims: http://essentialdissent.blogspot.com/2009/04/me…
were ca i watch live television on the web…
Any idea if there are similar blogs like this related to were ca i watch live television on the web?…
were ca i watch live television on the web…
I would like to subscribe to this blog – Once Upon a Time With Brent Cannon & Laura Garcia-Cannon. How to go about doing it?…
were ca i watch live television on the web…
Awesome information you have here. Thanks for sharing….
were ca i watch live television on the web…
How do you look for information for your blog content?…