Responding to gun talks
Dr. Jennifer Rich recently wrote about her objections to arming teachers in schools. The way she diffused the situation in disarming a seven-year-old with a gun was remarkable. She also wrote about how she teaches future teachers by emphasizing not only academics but also how important it is for them to understand just how complex and trying that job will be in other ways. This is a refreshing commentary coming from an educator’s educator. I’ve always believed that teaching is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. As if the lesson planning, class room instructions, test grading and parent/teacher interactions aren’t difficult enough, it’s the physical, mental and emotion investment that I believe takes a steeper toll and ranks as high or higher in significance. It really does take a special kind of person to be a good teacher. I think if we had more people like Dr. Rich our teaching community will be in great hands.
Having said that, and while I agree that most teachers are the last people qualified as being armed defendants in handling critical active shooter situations, I think three’s another aspect about school shootings that needs mentioning. A teacher, no matter how good they are in resolving their students’ life’s problems, cannot be expected to reach 100% of their students. A larger number of better trained teachers in place will certainly affect and reduce the number kids who decide to shoot their way out of their problems. I have no doubt about that. But it’s the one student who can’t be reached who will go on to inflict unspeakable harm and devastation. It is for this reason, at least today with the way things are now, that having trained armed staff in schools is prudent.
I don’t think disarming a seven-year-old with a gun is the same as facing a scheming and seriously troubled 18-year-old with an AR-15 and a small arsenal of ammo, which is much more typical. Whatever the reason was or is that led this person to load up and shoot, the only remedy, at that point, is immediate return fire. I don’t like it any more than anyone else. But Dr. Rich’s way will take a lot of time to affect significant changes. So, in the meantime, if nothing else, knowing you will be faced with deadly return fire before long may be all we have today in creating some deterrence and possibly preventing school shootings. The shooter may still choose to move ahead and get what they can get, but the damage will be less.
— Al Mendola