Teachers carrying guns?

[PrincessFiona]

I just watched a special lately about a Utah law that allows teachers to carry concealed weapons in schools..they aren't even required to report to the principal if they are 'packin' . Is it just me, or are we taking this a bit far? Corporal punishment is outlawed, but teachers can bring guns?

kris

[Rapunzel]

I actually already read about this on one of the homeschooling sites I belong to. It seems New York is considering allowing their teachers to concealed carry during work hours because of the incredible risk of violence posed by their own student body. Apparently armed security guards take too long to respond - and we won't even go into how long it takes the police to respond. Anyway, it pretty much seems like an extension of the concealed carry laws that exist in certain states (such as Texas where I would have a concealed carry license myself if I were currently living there). The facts bear out that counties in Texas with the highest percentage of citizens with concealed carry permits have the lowest crime rates. But, at the same time I can see why public school parents are hesitant to let public school teachers of all people be armed :P It's times like these that I am SO glad I educate my children at home!

Jennifer

I've talked to my dad about this a bit relating to the Columbine shootings in Littleton. His opinion is that if teachers did have guns (by their own choice, I would imagine) that some of the deaths could have been prevented. I think that is a real possibility. But I also think that in the choas of what happened teachers could have mistakenly shot other students who were innocent. It's hard to say how that could have changed the outcome.
I'm sure most of you are spared the continuing press coverage of this horrible event. There have been stories (relating to lawsuits probably) about a police officer (now former, I think) who told a family that their child was possibly shot by an officer and not the two gunmen. This, of course, caused further grief for the family. Apparently, the officer thought he was making them feel better that their son was just caught in the crossfire and not shot by the two gunmen. It didn't make them feel better. According to the police report the child was clearly shot by the gunmen. (But there have been so many issues around how the police have handled this......). The confusion about how this child died led me to wonder what would happen if teachers had guns as well. Like I said, maybe it would have helped or maybe it would have made things a whole lot worse.

[mommax3]

As a former teacher who dealt with guns and other weapons at my school, (a middle school in rural Indiana 10 years ago 8O ) I think that teachers having guns is a horrible idea. Teachers don't always have a good grip on their tempers, you know! What about the fact that a teacher could be overpowered and their own gun used against them? Granted, I don't teach in New York City, but I think this will open a whole new can of worms for that troubled school district.

Sally

[quote="lunatic"]
I think that we, as a nation, need to invest more in children as they are growing up. Look at how little education a daycare worker needs to have to care for your children -- and how little they get paid! We had a horrendous experience with a brand new day care that opened in a church (and we're STILL paying the price!). Unfortunately, it seems that our government right now doesn't want to invest in children -- we're too busy with war (what a great example, huh?).
quote]

I agree. One of my biggest concerns about moving in a year is finding a quality preschool for my daughter. I'm hoping that I can get referrals from friends of friends in the area. I absolutely love the preschool we are at now. We really had to search it out. My daughter's teacher for the prior school year has a degree in teaching (high school French, I think) but teachs preschool because that is more fulfilling for her. She has taught at that preschool for eight years. Her teacher the year before that has a bachelor's degree in early childhood development and has been with the school for at least 5 years and she was just *wonderful*. That kind of experience and dedication seems hard to come by, though. Your post has me thinking -- what is a good solution to that problem? I'll have to think about that some more!

[Rapunzel]

I think it all points back to what is causing children to be so violent these days?! Is it the movies, the seeming lack of parental interest, video games, boredom, general frustration with life? I think that kids need mentors, either at school or at home. Lots of kids don't seem to have them at home (from what I can see). And when parents are divorced on top of that, as many are, the kids feel powerless and sad. A kid who feels powerless and has access to guns is a dangerous kid, in my mind.

I think that we, as a nation, need to invest more in children as they are growing up. Look at how little education a daycare worker needs to have to care for your children -- and how little they get paid! We had a horrendous experience with a brand new day care that opened in a church (and we're STILL paying the price!). Unfortunately, it seems that our government right now doesn't want to invest in children -- we're too busy with war (what a great example, huh?).

Sorry if I am preaching -- it's a hot topic in my mind. I have heard that many schools have instituted programs to deal with some of the emotional issues that may have led up to some of these shootings in an effort to prevent it from happening again. I hope it works! I send my kids to public school, but they're still young. I am admittedly nervous about sending them off to any school when they get older with the way things are now.

This actually relates to the top thread in the "Career and Education" portion of the website if you are interested in visiting there.