Do you really want teacher to be strapped?

The recent tragedy in Connecticut has given rise to a whole series of what-shall-we-do reflections, many long overdue for consideration. However, some of them come from the side of thought that makes you wonder about the body politic of American life. Under the guise of wouldn’t-you-want-to-do-everything-to protect-your-child perspective, those who hold affinity for guns suggest that arming teachers would be a strong deterrent to those with mass murder on their minds.

Really? Some want teacher to be packing? This is ridiculous to dangerous on so many levels I won’t detail them too long in this blog. First, we teachers have such a hard time finding anything we need that the delay of looking for a piece would offset the presumed security. Teachers who would not conceal weapons but have them on their hip sounds like a perfect possibility for misuse and theft, despite what some might perceive to be a solid classroom management tool. Imagine teacher quelling the rambunctious class with an “oh yea?” and a hand on the holster. Thirdly, in panic situations the brain acts with such dysfunctional synapse leaps that the probable response would result in further loss of innocent lives.

The presumption of those with guns on the brain is that teachers would be properly trained like law enforcement in proper gun use. I love those in my profession as much as the next educator, but line up in your mind a series of teachers in your life then imagine which ones would be dexterous and correct in weapon management and I promise you that remaining list in tiny. Even those I recall who could use a weapon I wouldn’t want them carrying in the school, if you know what I mean.

Our gun mania and the heartbreak it causes are not addressed by further feeding that gun mania. Armed presence in the schools is the unfortunate byproduct of American culture. Security is not further achieved nor tragedy thwarted by arming the teaching force.