Do you think teachers and those in authority should have armed weapons in our pu

1. 83

   mary615posted 11 years ago

   Do you think teachers and those in authority should have armed weapons in our public schools?
   
   With all the recent events on shootings, do you think our children would be safer if teachers and other in authority carried guns?

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2. 93

   donnah75posted 11 years ago

   No. I am trained to teach, not to be an armed guard. If that level of security is necessary in our schools, then the appropriately trained people should be hired to do that job. The day I am told to carry a gun is the day I leave the profession. My time and energy is better spent in continuing to hone my craft as an educator. That is my job. We need to keep our children safe, which means we need to bring in trained professionals. This is a hot issue, and I haven't met one teacher who would be willing to take on being armed at work.

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3. 85

   Alphadogg16posted 11 years ago

   I have to agree with donnah75, it that level of security is necessary than people who are properly trained to deal with those types of situations should be obtained.

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4. 86

   midget38posted 11 years ago

   Got to agree with Donna there. I was a teacher too....and as she says, the day we have to become bodyguards really takes the education cake.

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      midget38posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      On that note, the concerns of parents are so valid as well, and the trained pros brought in as operations managers in schools to ensure the safety of the school population.

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   MakerBakerposted 11 years ago

   I also have to agree with Donna, the only people in the school that should be armed are trained professionals.

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      midget38posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Not to mention potential misuse on the part of those not trained and danger. If a student decides to play a prank on a teacher and steals her gun, then mayhem might happen.

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   Brett Winnposted 11 years ago

   I think they should be able to carry a gun if they desire to do so. A person who is untrained and uncomfortable is potentially more of a liability than an unarmed person. But for those who are comfortable with and willing to seek the training and to accept the responsibility, I think they should be allowed to carry. It is a constitutional right and the schools would be safer. I do not think it should be made generally known who is carrying. The criminal should be left to wonder.

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      pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I disagree. Why? As I mentioned, a school resource officer, i.e., a trained police officer had their weapon discharge in a school just last week. Training means nothing when it comes to bullets flying in the air.

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      Mitch Alanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      pagesvoice, incidents where there were armed citizens had a lower death toll then where citizens were unarmed in relation to mass or attempted mass shooting. Based on your argument are you saying even police should be unarmed?

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      pagesvoiceposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Where did I ever allude to police being unarmed? This is a clear example of people who try to formulate an argument based on innuendo. Here's an FYI, I wore a Deputy Sheriff's uniform for several years and yes, I was armed!

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      Mitch Alanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Page, "trained police officer...weapon discharge in a school...Training means nothing when it comes to bullets flying in the air." If your argument is that accidents happen and that is why teachers shouldn't be allowed to carry. Then logically...

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7. 74

   pagesvoiceposted 11 years ago

   My wife has been teaching school for 38 1/2 years now. She has seen many changes in security within the school environment. Remember when doors were left open? Well, sadly those days have come and gone. Remember fire drills? Drills now involve lock downs and evacuations.
   
   My wife's school is in lock down mode all of the time. There are cameras at every point of entry. All teachers wear a photo ID badge and a key card. Furthermore, the faculty must carry a cell phone left on in order to send and receive text messages in a moments notice. Students in hallways are kept to a minimum. If there were gun toting teachers it would only add to a host of other problems within a military atmosphere. Just last week, in New York State a school resource officer had their weapon mysteriously discharge in a school hallway.
   
   To put it bluntly, my wife has stated repeatedly, "The day they ask me to carry a gun in my classroom will be the last day I teach school!"

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8. 73

   AMFredenburgposted 11 years ago

   And what if a teacher goes crazy and starts shooting? Guns in schools should be restricted to trained police officers, and then it's far from being the sole solution. Police officers in schools are primarily useful for gathering info and developing relationships with students with an eye on finding out about potential problems before they happen. If an armed police officer had been at the door at Newtown, it's likely he or she would have been the first person killed.

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      pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Exactly!

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   teaches12345posted 11 years ago

   We have neighborhood patrols in our community that tote guns and give the neighbors peace of mind.  Yes, they are trained and would only use the gun if absolutely necessary, they must first call 911 before they even think to use a weapon.  Training teachers in a school environment, may be needed in some schools; but, I don't believe it to be the safest security measure.  We have officers who shoot and later realize they made a mistake, can we be sure this won't happen in a school setting?  Just too much at stake to allow this to be a standard across the nation.  Better to have armed security at the doors and where needed on campus.

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    Mitch Alanposted 10 years ago

    Get away from government run schools completely and go to a free-market approach. If "School A" wants to allow, or mandate, that their teachers carry a firearm, then that would be their choice. If "School B" opted for armed security guards, that would be their choice. If "School C' chose to leave doors open and unlocked, that would be their choice. Then the parents would use this information as well as that of curriculum, value-added classes etc to determine whare they send their children. CHOICE.

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       AMFredenburgposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Yup, let's throw away 200 years of public education for a class-based system that keeps people in their place. The enormous progress the US made in the 19th and 20th centuries is because it educated waves of poor immigrants and gave them a stake.

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       Mitch Alanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       You mean the education system that has seen the US slip in world rankings? You mean the bloated bureaucracy that is the federal system in which less dollars get to the children, then to the system? Who said "class-based"? not me.

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       AMFredenburgposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       A private system  could favor rich over poor. What's to prevent cherry-picking of students or promoting a curriculum that pushes kids in blue-collar or minority neighborhoods toward trades and kids in wealthier neighborhoods toward college?

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       Brett Winnposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I think this is a GREAT idea and would love to know what would end up having the greatest number of supporters. The results of putting your children where your mouth is would be most interesting.

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    prektjr.dcposted 10 years ago

    I am a Elementary School Teacher by trade.  My children are a Middle School Teacher, a Marine and a Police Officer.  I and my daughter would willingly carry a concealed weapon to protect students from the deranged freaks we have grown in the world today.  It comes down to the proper training and taking personal responsibility for others' safety.  I see it as on the same level of sitting by the emergency exit on a plane.  There is a responsibility for protection that comes with it, but I am often more of a Mother to the students in my class than their Mother at home is.....don't mess with my kids.  Yet I am the FIRST to encourage good behavior from adults as well as children.

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