December 19, 2012
-
Armed in the classroom? Nope....
I am a teacher.
I also own guns.
I know how to use them and while not afraid of them, I do respect them.
I do not believe that they belong in a classroom.
Let me explain.
I had someone tell me the other day that I needed a gun in my desk so I could grab it in times of danger.
Obviously, this person has not been in a classroom in quite a while.
It is rare that I am anywhere near my desk. I'm circling the room, offering instruction and assistance. The taxpayers do not pay me to sit on my keister all day.
This would render "getting the gun" rather a dicey proposition.
But it is not the main reason.
My first priority in a dangerous situation is the safety of my students, my kids.
That is job one to me. Nothing else is as important.
My second priority is to provide comfort and leadership until help comes. I do not see that happening if I am waving a gun around.
A gun in a classroom invites all sorts of problems.
Gun in a desk? Gun in a closet? Gun on my person?
What about the ammunition? Near the gun? Away from the gun? Blanks?
What do you do when a group of students decide that they are taking the gun from you?
How do you know that if I had a gun, that when I shot, I would hit my target and not a kid who darted into the frame?
What on earth makes you think I am a gun toting warrior? I am not a wimp, but I am not a soldier either.
There are voices that bleating on and on about armed teachers would prevent problems.
What if the teacher snaps?
It has happened more than once.
I worked with a husband and wife teaching couple.
He is in prison.
She is in the ground.
It is a good thing he was not armed in school.
Nobody saw the tragedy coming. Nobody can forget that it did.
Armed teachers? Nope......
Comments (9)
I don't think they have a place in the classroom either, even though they might prevent something bad, it's more likely they would be dangerous for the reasons you listed.
The day they require me to carry a gun in my classroom is the day I turn in my resignation. A loaded weapon around 8-year-olds? I don't think so.
@saturnnights - I know that a lot of the comments about armed teachers come from fear and not from thoughtful discourse. I also think the public thinks that education is still happening just as it did when they were in school. Education has changed a great deal-no more sage on the stage, now it is all about involvement....and knowing and caring for your kids is the first step. I cannot imagine a teacher who would endanger their kids if they were really dedicated to education. I also happen to think that a gun in the hands of a fearful person is a fearful thing indeed......
@DMMeyer - This comment I have heard among my teaching friends. And the comment does not come from cowardice, it comes from common sense and a desire to build better, stronger humans. We had a police presence in the building right after Columbine. I was uncomfortable with the police having their weapons on campus as well.
What a dilemma!
@brokenbindings2 - The fear-based reporting is driving this already emotional event, and rational thought won't come from fear & that's why nothing should be enacted in a knee-jerk fashion. It would be irresponsible & I feel, opportunistic.
@hopejoy - Yes it is....and a sad one that we even have to think about it....
Actually,I was stunned by this horrible incident. Even now, I can't bring myself to see the innocent faces of the young victims in the news reports. It's really so very sad.
I wonder if there'll be a day when people,both young and old, have to carry arms to protect themselves like living in a war zone.I also don't like to hear people's interpretation of the incident as God's judgement. Perhaps the incident is just too overwhelming for us to comprehend.I appreciate that there are problems which are so complex, deep-rooted and involve so many vested interests that there is simply no immediate solution.We've so many insurmountable problems in our society as well.May God bless us! Hope we can have peace in this X'mas season!
@hopejoy - well said and may you have a happy and joyous Christmas as well....
Comments are closed.