Youth Radio is excited to announce reporter Robyn Gee's acceptance of the esteemed 2014 Gracie Award for her work on the impact of school shootings on the daily lives of students. Gee received the award for her piece "Lockdowns The Norm For Schools With Frequent Threats," which outlines the effect of lockdowns on Bay Area students.
"Lockdown The Norm For Schools With Frequent Threats" walks the listener through a day in the life of Bay Area students and teachers who cope with constant threat of violence. According to the report, lockdowns have become part of the school schedule; on average, at least three schools are shut down in Oakland every week. Gee's piece takes an intimate look inside a classroom, putting listens in the shows of first graders who must tell themselves, "you need to...lose your fear".
While this story was produced in the aftermath of the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, it still resonates today as stories of school shootings continue to make headlines.
This piece was produced from Youth Radio's Education Desk, which is generously supported in part by The California Endowment's Health Happens in Schools Initiative--promoting the vital connection between student wellness and learning.
Listen to the story here.