Lawrenceville School Speaks Out Against Gun Violence

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — The Lawrenceville School and the other members of the Eight Schools Association are demanding "meaningful action" when it comes to gun violence on school campuses and beyond. In a statement issued Monday morning, they voiced their support for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed in a shooting two weeks ago.

“We, the heads of independent secondary schools comprising the Eight Schools Association, stand in solidarity with our students and with the families of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. We join with those voices demanding meaningful action to keep our students safe from gun violence on campuses and beyond,” the schools said in a joint statement Monday morning. “As many of our students have joined a nationwide movement to support the victims and survivors of gun violence in America, we pledge, as leaders of those schools, to help amplify their voices. Our students come from every state in this nation and from around the world to receive the very best care and education. We are moved to take action out of responsibility for the thousands of children in our care and out of compassion for children throughout this country. Each day of inaction chips away at every teacher’s right to deliver and every student’s right to receive an education free from fear and violence.”

The Eight Schools Association consists of eight private schools in the northeast for the purpose of mutual support and collegiality and to address critical educational issues. It was informally established during the 1973-74 school year, and was formalized in 2006.

“We have given witness to Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Sandy Hook, among too many other instances of gun violence on campuses. Parkland is now added to that list. We as school leaders will do all we can in our power to keep our students safe,” the heads of schools wrote. “We call upon all those elected representatives – from each member of Congress to the President to all others in positions of power – to take meaningful legislative and regulatory action to make our schools safer for learning and teaching. It is hard to imagine any topic that would be more worthy today of our leaders’ focus. Do not let our students’ voices go unheard this time.”

• Alex Curtis, Choate Rosemary Hall;
• Margarita Curtis, Deerfield Academy;
• Craig Bradley, The Hotchkiss School;
• Peter Fayroian, Northfield Mount Hermon;
• John Palfrey, Phillips Academy, Andover;
• Lisa MacFarlane, Phillips Exeter Academy; and
• Michael Hirschfeld, St. Paul's School.

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