Should Teachers Be Allowed To Carry Guns?

Tiny Texas District OKs It; Could It Prevent Columbines?; Issue Debated, On The Early Show

(CBS)  Could allowing teachers to bring guns to class help prevent Columbine-like tragedies?

The board of the tiny, rural Texas district of Harrold, near the Oklahoma border, thinks so.

It unanimously approved such a plan, to take effect this fall -- and the move appears to be the first of its kind in the United States.

Though the district only has one school and about 100 students, the policy could have massive reppercussions.

Board members note that the school is about a half-hour's drive from the nearest Sheriff's office.

But foes of the idea worry about the guns getting into the wrong hands.

On The Early Show Tuesday, the superintendent of the district, David Thweatt, who is very much in favor of the plan, went back-and-forth over it with the president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, Gayle Fallon, who vehemently opposes it:

[bhappy2-2]

isabel36- I''m sorry you feel that way. When the students are in your care you are responsible for them. Yes, the first duty is to educate. But, you also take on additional responsibilities by being the adult and being in control of the classroom. If you feel you would suddenly become a coward and abandon your responsibilities perhaps you should seek work of a different type.

[isabel36-2009]

bhappy2-2,

Although,
I have suffered for some students as if they were my own I did realize that they were not. In the event of a life threatening event we will think and act accordingly!

To arm teachers is wrong! Their main duty is to educate not to think about a resonse to a dangerous student. There has to be a better way. If not, take your child out of the public schools!

[bhappy2-2]

I think it is a wonderful idea. Who would be in a better position to defend the kids from an armed intruder than the adult responsible for them while they are in school? The teachers (at least most of them) care about the children as if they were their own. That is why they teach, it surely isn''t for the money. Remember: when SECONDS count, the police are only MINUTES away!

[patriot12436]

observer2020
I have mixed feelings about this. I see the need for protection because of the violence from students against teachers and bus drivers, but i would want very strict training required before they start carrying in schools. Having lived in Texas i understand where they are coming from and the point that the nearest police station is 30 minutes from the school is also a factor.

[isabel36-2009]

ffurgy,

Yeah, and which dictionary is that, ''The Hick Vintage Dictionary''???

[ffurgy]

aboz3 said:
"LEARNT" ??? You might want to go back and get a little more edgumacation! :-)

Look who''s talking. Learnt is a perfectly good word. You might want to read some
"vintage" works to expand your vocabulary
(or dig out a dictionary before you start
smiling)

[hbevis]

I grew up when children showed respect for their elders. The thought of assaulting a teacher or any adult was unheard of. Times have changed. I have seen it. The kids have no respect for anyone or anything. I also think the responsibility primarily goes back to the parents.
Posted by patriot12436

Well said, patriot12436. I actually cannot believe that this is even being considered. Leave it to Texas to come up with something really dumb like this.

Posted by observer2020 at 03:16 PM : Aug 20, 2008

As I am trained and can and do carry a gun into school''s, I don''t seen anything wrong with the idea. Of course there would have to be some training done over a few months before they should have the right to carry into a school. And it should be on a volunteer basic to do all of this training, etc.

[observer2020]

I grew up when children showed respect for their elders. The thought of assaulting a teacher or any adult was unheard of. Times have changed. I have seen it. The kids have no respect for anyone or anything. I also think the responsibility primarily goes back to the parents.
Posted by patriot12436

Well said, patriot12436. I actually cannot believe that this is even being considered. Leave it to Texas to come up with something really dumb like this.

[ffurgy]

aboz3 said:
"LEARNT" ??? You might want to go back and get a little more edgumacation! :-)

Look who''s talking. Learnt is a perfectly good word. You might want to read some
"vintage" works to expand your vocabulary
(or dig out a dictionary before you start
smiling)

[ffurgy]

aboz3 said:
"LEARNT" ??? You might want to go back and get a little more edgumacation! :-)

Look who''s talking. Learnt is a perfectly good word. You might want to read some
"vintage" works to expand your vocabulary
(or dig out a dictionary before you start
smiling)

[patriot12436]

gaye5
I grew up when children showed respect for their elders. The thought of assaulting a teacher or any adult was unheard of. Times have changed. I have seen it. The kids have no respect for anyone or anything. I also think the responsibility primarily goers back to the parents.

[aboz3]

Gaye5

"LEARNT" ??? You might want to go back and get a little more edgumacation! :-)

[gaye5]

Yes there were some cases where kids were scared of their teachers, so instead of getting rid of the rotten teacher they threw out the baby with the bath water. Now the doooo gooders have made it so as you cant tell a child that he didn%u2019t get a good mark in fear of hurting his psyche etc.. What rot!!! those children brought up with good strict teachers/parents who were fair, grew up happily and health and with healthy morals. We are now living in hell and our kids are all messed up, so much so that it is questioned as to whether it would be wise for teachers to take guns to school for protection... come on America wake up, it is the doo gooders who are the cause of all this, start fighting them, dont let them dictate what you do with your child... A jolly good kick in the pants never hurt anyone as long as it was fair...
Now that we cant smack the dear little darlings, we have problems. Now that no one does anything about the *** and violence on TV even during kids program, we have problems, now that we have teachers not being able to tell kids what is right or wrong we have problems.. We didn%u2019t fight the small minority who pushed the non smacking theme and now we reap the consequences..
In one school that my husband taught in, we had 5 year olds telling the teachers to go and get FFF etc..

[gaye5]

If it has got to the stage where teachers have to wear guns to protect themselves and other students that is pathetic. It is about time that our authorities and families start to wonder why this is happening and when society started to get so bad.. I know why and many of you out there do also.
I am old enough now to remember when a child was well disciplined and sat in school and learnt, they grew up to be health, hard working well disciplined adults who brought up children the same.

[patriot12436]

rbw08
SAo my question is what constitutes a militia ? What training is required for militia ?

[ioweign]

I am sorry to say that you don''''t know much about guns.
A Desert Eagle is a powerful gun, but there are plenty of guns that are more powerful than a AK-47. The AK-47 is about what a 30-30 winchester is in power. You want something really powerful, go get a 30-06, 300 mag, etc.

Posted by hbevis at 12:15 AM : Aug 20, 2008

Webster''s Unabridged Dictionary has plenty of power and some to spare...

[patriot12436]

idnnsg
I have had situations more than once that thwarted crimes being committed without actually having to shoot the criminal. So guns in th hands of someone properly trained can and do prevent crimes.

[patriot12436]

rbw08
We have all seen how well the drug laws and hand gun laws have worked in this country.
My point on the militia is how is it different than being called back to active duty ? As a militia you are trained to be a soldier. I was called back one year after i retired. Fortunately because of my disability i was not required to return to active duty. Sometimes i still have nightmares about being recalled.

[rbw08]

patriot12436

Re-reading what you said, you''re talking about being called up for active duty in the military. That has nothing to do with the unorganized militia. The last time the unorganized militia was used was during WW-II on the coasts. People were called upon to supply their own firearms to stand guard along the coast.

[rbw08]

patriot12436

I said not to actually focus on the actual age. You may actually be too old to call up legally for the unorganized militia according to the law passed during the early 20th century. That doesn''t mean you have to.