Make safety priority

I am a teacher. Last week was a tough week for my students, and for kids everywhere. For two days all they could talk about was the Florida school shooting. They asked some laser-sharp questions, and I am not sure I could give them any reassuring answers. They know there is no such thing as a completely safe school campus unless it is set up like a maximum security prison. They did not ask if a mass shooting could happen here in rural Arkansas. They know it can.

They asked, “Why don’t we have security cameras?” “How do you feel about teachers carrying guns?” “Shouldn’t we be doing active-shooter drills?” “What would you do if you saw someone walking across the parking lot carrying a weapon?” Teachers have done active-shooter training for professional development on my campus. It was effective and sobering, but what about our students? All they know is what we tell them about our training—each teacher’s classroom and situation being different.

Installation of adequate security measures will be expensive. Security cameras and other safety measures cost money. I refuse to ever carry a weapon on campus. In my opinion, if armed personnel are needed on campus, then trained professional law enforcement officers must be the ones to do that. Teachers are not now, nor should they ever be, expected to do that job.

Money is spent constantly on testing, programs to raise test scores, useless professional development, and many other areas that are considered a priority. Funding follows priorities. Is there anything more important than the safety and well-being of our children? I strongly suggest we refocus our priorities and make sure our most precious resource is protected.

So I’m asking the legislators who are currently in the fiscal session, what will you do to help me answer my students’ questions? SHELLEY SMITH

Fox