The Parkland school shooting, along with President Trump’s efforts to arm teachers as a way to prevent further tragedies, has spawned all sorts of things: a student-led movement for more gun control; push-back law-enforcement officials on the president’s plan; a lively game of musical chairs among the country’s political leaders and candidates trying to stake out new positions on the gun debate.

And now we have the letters from teachers.

Around the nation, school teachers alarmed by the latest on-campus shooting have sporadically started posting online letters to their students in the event they are killed. They are both disturbing and heart-breaking.

“Due to the lack of movement towards sensible gun regulation on the part of the American government, I find it necessary to write this letter to my students in the hope that it never has to be read to them,” writes a San Jose teacher named Mary Csimma.

“Dear Students,” she writes on Facebook this week. “In the event that a school shooter comes on our campus to kill as many of us as he can, there are a few things that I would like you to know. I am so angry and sad that this has become a reality of our existence. That aside from working hard to prepare you academically for what comes ahead, we have to take instructional time to plan for and practice what to do in the all too common occurrence of someone coming to school to kill us.”

Here are some of the letters that have appeared online this week, edited for length and clarity.

Each starts with this note: “Due to the lack of movement towards sensible gun regulation on the part of the American government, I find it necessary to write this letter to my students in the hope that it never has to be read to them. I will send copies to my representative, my senators, Senator Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Paul Ryan, and President Donald Trump.”

The letters can be found by searching #EducatorsDemandAction

From Crystal Kennedy Adams in Reno, Nevada:

“If you’re reading this, I’m already gone. Doesn’t that sound like something straight out of a soldier’s letter? Turns out we are all on the front lines, and prone to having our lives ripped away by a school shooter’s bullet. I had hoped you would never have to read it, but it turns out hope – like thoughts and prayers – wasn’t enough.

I remember when I first became a teacher. I loved that my career gave me the opportunity to be surrounded by young people who would inspire, challenge, teach, and push me every day. You’ve all delivered that and more to my life, making it richer and more meaningful than it ever could have been without you. I hope that I gave you all the support you needed, and consistently sent the message that when you were ready I would still be right there ready for you. I know I wasn’t perfect, and I tried to show you that you don’t have to be perfect either. I tried to nurture your voice, and sharpen your skills.

“I remember the first “Code Red Drill” in my classroom, and reflecting on whether I would be strong enough to lay down my own life for my students. Then a real incident in one of my schools made me realize I could and I would. It is ironic to think of flesh and blood, passion and love, as “strong” against metal tools of war.

“I remember all of you: your handwriting, your facial expressions, the struggles you carried. I remember laughing with you, crying with some of you, and watching you move through our schools and into adulthood. Live your most authentic life, and make our culture about light, listening, love, and learning.”

From Erik Pangelinan of San Jose:

“In the event that I, your teacher, fall to the bullet of a cowardly school shooter, these are the things I want you to know and store away in your memories of me. I hope that you already understand that it has never been my strict intention to teach you how to merely read literature and write essays. In truth, I have always sought to teach you how to read life and how to write your own legacies. Literature has merely been the conduit through which I have done this. I also want you to know that you should do more than excel at the subjects we teachers have taught you. You should learn to excel at living, at creating, at inspiring and, most importantly, at loving.

“I want you to know that, despite all appearances, there are a million kinds of good in the world. There is the good of the activist at the podium, tearfully expressing her hopes and demands, moving an audience from possible skepticism and cynicism towards progressive change and faith in human beauty. There is the good of the loving parents who make a hundred wonderful mistakes, who then turn those mistakes into a thousand masterful lessons that their children will subconsciously transform into a million beautiful actions over their lifetimes.

“Unfortunately, you also need to know that there are a million kinds of evil to recognize and fight against. There is the evil of the tyrannical leader whose words sometimes echo democracy but whose actions express solipsism. There is the evil of the schoolyard bully, craven and self-conscious, who is so afraid of the effort involved in building his inner character up that he feels the need to tear others down instead. But most insidious is the evil of the silent mouths and the idle hands that willingly do nothing when the most important thing to do is simply something. Remember that history reviles the do-nothing as much as the evil-doer, since it is the do-nothing that creates the action vacuum the evil-doer giddily rushes to fill.

“Finally, my students, I want you to know that in our limited time together, you have changed me and helped me grow just as much as I hope I have you. I want, and the world needs, for you to continue to help others find their better selves so that we all can help humanity create our better world.”

From “Mr. Fleischman”

“Dear students, One of the hardest parts of teaching is the responsibility of knowing that I am just one person, but my job is to reach all of the 30 plus students in my classroom. This letter presents a similar task: I must try to meaningfully reach all of you, and I have just this last opportunity to do so. I ordinarily love the challenge of teaching; I hate this challenge. Nevertheless…

“In the event that I am killed by a student shooter, I would like you all to know several things.

“First, act. In my four years of teaching I have loved the action of giving large parts of my life over to school- planning, grading, and thinking of how to do a better job in my classroom. Now, my last action has been to literally give my school all that I have. This is an unnecessary way to die, but in the event I am killed by a school shooter I can wholeheartedly say I have given my life doing what I love at a place I love. May you find an action that you find important, and do your best to do that action often and with your whole heart. If you are not going to do that action now, then when will you?

“Second, help. I tried to create a classroom that demonstrated a fundamental truth: we are smarter together. When we work, really work, to help each other in the best way we can we do more than improve someone else’s situation. We improve ourselves. The help you give to others is a drop in the ocean that creates a ripple which creates a change.

“Last, take it easy on yourself. We are meanest to ourselves. Love your flaws- they complete and challenge you. Embrace your strengths- you are the grand champion, world record holder at being you. Recognize what makes you nervous- everyone is scared. Everyone is trying. Everyone is failing. Failure is more than OK- it is life itself.

Start your day with the news you need from the Bay Area and beyond.

Sign up for our new Morning Report weekday newsletter.

“In the event that I am killed by a student shooter, I would like you all to know that everytime I tried to make you work harder it was in an effort to help you grow. I will no longer be trying to make you work harder- that is now, in part, up to you.

“Thank you for letting me work with you. Thank you for being you.

“With deep love,

“Mr Fleischman”

From Mary Csimma of San Jose:

“First, know how special you are. Know that you are the reason I love my profession. You are the reason I work so hard to provide a learning experience that will enable you to be prepared to reach your goals in life. You are the reason I come to work each day prepared and excited to start the day. You are the reason I work into the night and on weekends to evaluate your work and give meaningful feedback. You are phenomenal people with amazing personalities, thoughts, insights, opinions, and dreams. You are the ones who are not too shy to explore new perspectives on things. Who not only love to debate topics with a passion but who also want to take action to make things better. Always know how amazing you are and use this knowledge to be strong in facing the world in both good times and bad.

“Second, participate in life. Whatever your passion, do it. Never tell yourself, “I can’t…” If someone else can do it, so can you….and if no one has done it before, be the first.

“Third, be kind and compassionate. You never know what someone’s story is. You can never be sure of what experiences, difficulties, or tragedies a person has overcome. Stand up for yourself when needed, don’t let anyone take advantage of you, but realize that everyone has a narrative.

“Finally, realize that you, too, have a journey. Don’t be too harsh on yourself. If you fall down, get back up and continue, learning from the experience and becoming ultimately the best you, you can be. The ability to persevere is the quality that will take you the farthest in life. Related Articles George Clooney: A behind-the-scenes force in Parkland students’ March for Our Lives

Shooting threatened at San Jose State University

California lawmakers push new gun restrictions after the Parkland shooting

“Thank you for the gift of spending my days with you. Thank you for the privilege of being a small part of your lives. I hope that you have learned even a fraction of all that I have learned from you.

“With love and respect,

:Mrs. Csimma, American Teacher”