Response to shootings ‘head-spinning’

Gov. Mike Dewine’s political party and many of its supporters continue to decry the state of public education. Bills across the country, and right here in Ohio are introduced to limit what educators can say in the classroom. The intent of the bills are to prevent divisive, controversial topics from class discussions. Legislators are laser-focused on protecting student feelings.

There is one divisive topic I’d like to stop talking about with students: telling them how to act in an active shooter scenario. I’d like to stop answering questions about where to throw the stapler if an intruder breaks into our room. I’d like to stop trying to figure out what to say when students ask me why this keeps happening.

Many supporters of House Bill 616 and House Bill 327 don’t trust my colleagues to educate children without bias, indoctrination, or grooming. Accusations of indoctrination and grooming run rampant even on the Dispatch’s comment boards. If one only pays attention to many Republican political campaigns across the country, one might be led to believe that public schools teacher want to destroy America.

Yet after every school shooting, Gov. Dewine and many of his adherents believe the same educators they denigrate should be armed. It’s an unbelievable, headspinning, hypocritical, weak response.

If the current crop of political leaders are products of public education, and any indication, then whatever liberal indoctrination they fear is happening in public schools isn’t very effective.

I wish Gov. Dewine and the Republican party in Ohio were as intent on protecting student lives as they are to protect student feelings.

Kevin Levine, Bexley