Teachers Packing Heat to Prevent School Violence
Tuesday September 2, 2008
Have you heard about the small Texas school that has taken teacher safety into its own hands by allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons? Hoping to avoid or minimize the deaths of innocent students during a school shooting, some teachers are now carrying licensed concealed weapons in the classroom. Theoretically, the students do not know which teachers are carrying a gun and which are not.
What do you think of this solution? Does it really make schools safer?
Comments
It scares me to death! There are too many
teachers that I’m not sure I’d want to be around! YES, I am a retired teacher!
I find this trend disturbing. There have been legislators calling for teachers to carry concealed in such normally sensible states as Wisconsin. This is the first time I know of where the concept has come to fruition. Additionally, there is a movement among college students advocating students carry concealed weapons in order to defend themselves if a gunman comes on campus.
The first question to ponder is whether or not the threat of violence prevents violence.
On a less philisophical level, one begins to think about teachers one has had. As a former school administrator, I have seen far too many teachers who lose control in the classroom. If a weapon is handy, who is to say that such a teacher wouldn’t reach for it in a moment of passion. As a current college professor, I’ve seen students lose control over whether they received an A- or an A. Who is to say which of these students is unstable enough to, in a fit of passion, reach for that weapon.
Schools, statistically, remain the safest places for children and adults to be. Introducing weapons into this purported sanctuary doesn’t make sense.
As Ms. Peachfuzz smiles at her grade 3’s rummaging in her oversized handbag and uttering, “I hope none of you anklebiting scummies are going to tell me that you have “forgotten” to do your homework…. Hahaha!….. Make my day, Harry!”
Schools are now gun free zones, and all criminals know this. It is a perfect place for the mentally unbalanced, or those who wish to make a name for themselves to go to wreak havoc on unprotected children and adults. Look at the majority of school shootings; almost always a TEACHER is killed or wounded. Teachers are the first line of defense, not the SRO, or security personnel or administrators. It is always a classroom teacher. Allowing properly screened, properly trained teachers who have the right experience and mindset would go a long towards helping to protect our children, the children I am assigned to take care of. Weapons in the school would be discretely carried, and always protected from prying hands. If something happens in my school I’d like to have the chance to fight back in a responsible manner, not just throw an eraser at an armed intruder.
Rich
I agree with the first two comments. Police are often under suspicion when a shooting occurs and they have specialized training to prepare for this type of threat. What happens when a teacher ACCIDENTALLY kills a student? What message does that send to children? Teachers have an extremely important role that should not be tied to acts of violence. This will not prevent violence. We have to look deeper than that.
Realizing police are about 30 minutes away, I still question teachers having concealed weapons. I taught first grade as does my husband now. Could the schools in this TX town now hire offduty policeman or security during the school day? Can teachers not carry mace, pepper spray, or use a pellet gun or stun gun (if they are available to the public)? Just some thoughts.
I don’t believe that anyone goes into the field of education thinking that they “want” to carry a gun. Most of us do what we do because we love children and have a passion for learning. Part of our duty as an educator is to protect the students during school hours and at school sponsored events, it is just becoming more difficult than ever before because of the changing state of our Nation.
Those who think that a teacher will “go postal” and shoot a kid for not turning in his homework are being absurd. The majority of humans do not want to kill another human being. Suggesting that teachers would look for a reason to pull the trigger is quite ridiculous.
Read the quote below…
“One of the most tragic and devastating terrorist acts in Israel was the Ma’alot school massacre in 1974 in which 21 Israeli children were murdered in a brutal terrorist act that set the stage for many subsequent attacks on schools. As a result of this incident, Israel has lived for thirty years with armed security in every school, armed guards on every field trip and sporting event, armored busses and armed security on those busses…”not one child has been killed in an Israeli school in the past 30 years!
I am a school administrator and I carry a weapon when I am not at school. I do not want to have to use my gun, ever; but if I ever do need to, I will be able to do so confidently, knowing that I have been properly trained.
Lastly, even more important than arming school personnel is the fact that schools need to implement violence prevention programs and parents need to be educated on what causes violence in adolescents, what warning signs are, preventative techniques and communication strategies. Children are not killers by nature; they model what they see and what they hear from: parents, siblings, relatives, TV, movies, video games, music videos, etc. Enough said?
I dont think they should carry guns in a gun free zone. Maybe something less serious than a gun, like a tazer
JW is absolutely right. Criminals have no respect for “gun-free zones.” Especially when they intend to kill people. Having properly trained and screened individuals carrying firearms can stop an attack. Stopping the attack before the police even arrive can me that hundreds of lives can be saved.
As for pepper spray and stun guns, these require you be only feet from the attacker. If the attacker has a gun, chances are you will be stopped before you get to close to be a threat.
Finally, I am part of the concealed-carry on campus movement. I go to college in the 3rd most dangerous city in America. Everywhere I go I carry my pistol, except the gun-free zone known as my school. Leaving me vulnerable to attacks while walking to school, but also in the classroom. I sure hope the rent-a-cops is willing to put his life, and donut, down to save the students.