Today, tens of thousands of students and teachers across America are walking out of their classrooms for 17 minutes to honor those killed and protest school shootings. In the wake of yet another school tragedy where 17 innocent people were killed, it is abundantly clear that our current laws fail to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them.
I believe it is critical for HMH, as the largest learning company in America, to support the right of every child and every teacher to attend schools that will be free of gun violence. Tragedies such as these are not meant to be endured. They must be prevented.
This is deeply personal for us. Every day, our 2,000 field employees walk the halls of schools nationwide, and together we serve 13,000 districts, 3 million teachers and 50 million students. Education is our work. These are our customers, our communities, our friends, our children, our neighbors, our future, our country.
We must use our voice and our passion to help preserve the sanctity of our learning environments. I’ve urged our employee community to consider taking action to channel that energy and support the movement our students and educators have catalyzed. From participating in the #MarchForOurLives on Saturday, March 24, to calling or emailing elected officials and demanding the courage to enact the laws required to keep our schools and our communities safe, we can offer our talent, time and support to this cause.
Students have asked for funding for buses and train tickets so they can join the march in Washington. HMH will adopt a school so that its students may attend and inspire change.
Education and social progress have always been closely linked. I’m proud of the brave students who have organized this movement. They are on the right side of history and HMH stands with them. Together, we can make a difference.