The Pros And Cons Of Arming Teachers

Arming Teachers: Increasing Potential Harm On April 20th, 1999, two high school seniors, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, shot and killed thirteen innocent students at Columbine High School after a bomb they set earlier that day failed to detonate. This tragic event inspired many to make changes in school systems around the country, yet since Columbine, there have been more and more school shootings, all leading up to the recent Parkland shooting in which seventeen people were killed. Michael Roberts, an author at Westword wrote, “The Parkland incident was at least the 208th school shooting to take place in Columbine's wake.” 208 school shootings in just nineteen years does not make schools look safe. Also, these shootings have had a massive
impact on entire communities. Not only were loved ones lost, but many were wounded. On top of that, gunfire inside of a building can call for reconstruction of a whole new school. No student should have to go through these things, especially at such a young age. Although a vast majority of students strongly oppose this violence, it only takes one unstable individual to pull a trigger. Many people think, “That wouldn’t happen in my school.” Yes, the chances of it happening in one individual school appears to be miniscule, but schools that have been affected had this same mentality previously. I personally thought, “There is no way that anyone would even threaten to do that to in a place like Dubuque, Iowa.” I actually turned out to be wrong. Shortly after the Parkland shooting, a rumor started to spread about how a student from another school in Dubuque may bring a gun to school. As a student, this was one of the most frightening rumors I could have heard. I never expected something like that to even be joked about. As it turns out, school was actually canceled due to this potential threat. I was shaken up about this for days. Based on the way I felt, one could only imagine the feelings of the victims when violence actually occurred at school. It was at this point that I realized I needed to step up and take serious action in trying to ensure school safety. The time has come, and students should never have to risk losing their lives by simply attending school.
Thankfully, people are continually searching for solutions to end this crisis, and they are willing to do whatever it takes.
Many ideas have been brought up, but the United States government seems to come to a standstill because no one can agree on what solution will work best. One idea that has been growing is arming teachers in schools to stop the threats right in their tracks. Upon first hearing this suggestion, most people think it sounds completely absurd. After considering both sides, however, the argument starts to make more sense and may not be as ludicrous as one may have thought. Even the president of the United States is calling for arming teachers. Although the topic proves worthy of debate, schools should remain gun free because students may feel uncomfortable thus affecting learning, it could potentially be more dangerous to students, and there are other ways to prevent school
shootings.
First and foremost, arming teachers with guns would be a major transition in a school setting that could pose a negative effect on student learning. A gun in a classroom would frighten students. Picture a police officer, for example. Even when people are not engaging in criminal behavior, driving past a police officer can be scary, especially for a young student. Students know that police always carry around guns. Even in complete innocence, seeing a gun can be quite intimidating. If teachers had guns in classrooms, similar feelings might arise with students, thus affecting their ability to learn. More and more students are already struggling with staying focused in school, and they do not need another distraction to worry about. If elementary students were exposed to a gun in the classroom, teachers would face many disruptive consequences. Additionally, while being a teacher does involve protecting students, they should never have to go as far as receiving firearm training just for their job. Mandatory firearm training should only be required for those who serve the country in the military. Helping students learn should be a teachers main focus. Rather than requiring teachers to do something unnecessary, Clay Finley, a U.S. Army veteran, Wahlert Catholic High School strength coach, and current gun owner, offered, “I think that having a team of teachers that want to be proficient in school shootings, and having the funding and time to conduct these types of training would probably be the best case scenario.” Following Finley’s ideas would require far less hassle with guns, and it would let people who care the most about school safety become involved. Furthermore, given Finley’s background, even he does not completely agree with allowing guns inside schools and he especially does not agree with requiring a few teachers to carry guns. It goes to show that even gun enthusiasts do not fully support the idea of arming teachers.
Not only could guns in school influence a student’s ability to learn, but it can also threaten a student’s safety.
First of all, if a teacher were to conceal a gun at their side, a lot of potential for misuse may arise. For instance, in a demonstration or simple showcase to students of the firearm, shots may be fired accidentally. If those who are armed unconsciously switches off the safety, disaster may strike. Another considered idea was locking a gun in a safe, but this could pose just as many dangers. Teachers who do not pay close attention to the safe could risk a student meddling with it or stealing a key which allows a potential break in, thus allowing a student to get ahold of a gun more easily to turn on other fellow students. Not only do safes allow the potential for break-ins, but if they are stowed in a very secure area, teachers may not have enough time to get to the safe and unlock it before it is too late. Now if a shooter enters a school and begins firing, even if a teacher obtains access to their gun in enough time, another major problem arises. Teachers will need to find and to lock down on one specific target while the rest of the school runs. “Even police officers with years of training still have doubts -- and make mistakes -- during critical moments at crime scenes. Deciding when to open fire and who to fire at during adrenaline-filled moments is tough business,” (USA Today). Armed teachers, with no real life experience in shooting a criminal, will face
tough struggles on picking out and pinpointing one person with a split second to think. Frightened students could just as easily be struck with a bullet as an active shooter. Another consideration mentioned revolves around whether or not a teacher would jump into action on the scene or flee. In a surveillance video of the Parkland shooting, Deputy Scot Peterson, who was stationed at the school and possessed a gun, was observed hiding outside the school taking no action. As a deputy, Scot was required to put an end to danger and protect the students, but even he became frazzled. As a result, he was suspended and ended up resigning. This brings to question whether or not teachers should be help to the same standards if they carry a gun and if a teacher would actually take action or freeze. Yes, teachers could react bravely, and guns fulfill the job in schools as they are supposed to. However, a large chance exists that something may go wrong, and this could end up doing more harm than good. Too many different bad outcomes remain, rendering guns, even if kept safe, too dangerous for a school setting.