FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olney, MD — April 17, 2007 - The tragic and senseless shootings that occurred April 16, 2007, on the college campus of Virginia Tech University, in Blacksburg, VA, that resulted in the deaths of 32 students and faculty has shocked and saddened all of us.

The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) Executive Board and Headquarters staff join ACEI members worldwide in extending our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. This is the worst school shooting in U.S. history.

ACEI members, teachers, and parents will find supportive materials on the ACEI Web site at http://www.acei.org. Listed under Free Resources is the Teachers' Resource Packet. In the packet, visitors will locate helpful suggestions on how to talk to children and youth about crisis situations. The resources are titled "Helping Students Grieve," and "Helping Students Cope in Times of Crisis." Also, a press release located in the archived section of the Press Room entitled "Helping Children Through the Trauma of Terrorism," provides further guidance.

Members and visitors may also wish to visit the Web site http://www.kidsandguns.org for additional resources and information

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These pages are copyright 2007 by the Association for Childhood Education International. Please send any comments to Sheri Levin at slevin@acei.org.