classroom as a safe space

 who would have thought 

these words could carry such weight 

we never meant them as physically safe spaces

but as psychologically safe spaces

to grow the mind, speak what's in your heart, bravely, without fear of censure, a space to figure things out together with others who will help without judgment 

today I write, classroom as a safe space 

and my mind drifts to how the classroom, the school, was not a safe space for one child

will not feel safe for a lot of other children and teachers 

for the unthinkable happened 

and we cannot un think it again