Non-lethal and expedient weapons: Pens and Umbrellas

[chaim]

Some of the expedient ideas here are good ideas (and some I already use).

The umbrella was added to this post almost as an afterthought as I have a number of items that can be placed into use if I'm in the right place. In my classroom I always have an extra pair of (very pointed) scissors in a few places in the room as a makeshift knife if there is a school shooter. I have a broom with a metal shaft in my storage closet (if I have time to get to it). I used to have a very sturdy wood yard stick until it was taken from me since I'm a social studies teacher and didn't need it and it was given to the math teacher (I assume if I buy one and label it so it is clear it belongs to me and not the school it would be left alone). I love the dish soap idea. While I don't have a sink in my room so there is no obvious need for soap, we do have a big container of hand sanitizer and a bunch of hand sanitizing gel on the floor would have the same effect.

I do have a nice, and sturdy, wood cane from the last time I was injured (a few years ago I lost a significant amount of weight: being older and out of shape, but working out to get back into shape, can result in frequent injuries). However, it has been a few years and someone everyone knows to be healthy carrying a cane could be pretty obvious. The umbrella could be with me behind my desk at all times, and (at least on overcast days) wouldn't draw unwanted attention when on recess or bus duty. The advantage of the sturdy pen (whether tactical or not) is that it is always on my person.

I don't walk into a new classroom (or anywhere) without situational awareness and part of that is surveying the room and identifying what I can use. Most of the time, it is at best a second best option (my broom handle is very light aluminum, a stapler is bulky and not shaped well for a bludgeoning expedient weapon but can be used, a chair is very bulky and slow, etc.). I haven't thought to use a flag pole (I see the flag more than the pole), but I could hand that to a student if something happens (I would not be one of those "he shielded the students" teachers as that leaves them totally defenseless as soon as the teacher is killed, I'm fighting if there is a shooter, but if I am killed or injured badly enough to be out of the fight, I want my students to have a fighting chance).

That said, how do you deal with an unruly student (more likely).

I've been teaching for nearly 20 years, I am very good at classroom management and de-escalation. It is rare that things get too bad, let alone physical. At my current more upscale school it has never happened. Some disrespect and backtalk (very occasional) is as bad as it gets. At my old (Title I) school, it occasionally happened. I was one of those teachers who never hesitated to break up fights, until a few years ago when a student pushed me to the ground and with the age difference I was injured (him an over 6' tall athletic teenager, me an overweight, then 48 or 49 year old man). After that, if the violence wasn't directed at me (which never happened), I did what admin wanted me to do and waited for the school resource officer (police), the behavior techs, or the behavior specialist. As a former special ed teacher, for 15 years I was trained in CPI (deescalation and, failing that, "hands on" techniques) and when I worked at the psychiatric hospital I worked at before teaching, I was asked to be a trainer for my unit for similar techniques used by the hospital.

Just ensure you do not get jammed-up and lose a valuable pension this close to retirement!

If I had something that the powers that be would classify as a weapon I'm not risking being fired and losing my pension. I'd be breaking federal law and risking a felony. In fact, I'm now so used to not carrying them that I don't carry my pocket knives and pepper spray when in my off hours as much as I'd like since they are no longer part of my daily "uniform" and I don't think about them as much anymore. Now that I finally have a MD carry permit and I keep them by my carry gun I hope to start carrying them in my off hours more often again. I recently bought some ASP pepper spray in a small metal container that looks a lot like my pocket flashlight and I was tempted to carry it despite being illegal, but decided the risk to my freedoms wasn't worth it (even if I wasn't jailed, being convicted would mean no more gun rights and getting any job would be tough).

 

[hso]

I still keep a heavy steel stapler in a desk drawer at work because of the value as an impact weapon.

 

[dogtown tom]

Just ensure you do not get jammed-up and lose a valuable pension this close to retirement!

THIS x1000

Teachers darn well better be versed in what techniques and restrictions they can apply in a self defense situation with a student. While it differs slightly by state in regards to students in general education, students who are in special education come under federal law as well. Certain restraints used on Live PD every Saturday night by police officers will get a teacher fired.

My school district provides training in "nonviolent crisis intervention" that is designed to deescalate a physically aggressive student. It covers restraints and transport techniques for violent or aggressive students, some defensive techniques for the teacher such as stance, blocking strikes and kicks, can escape a chokehold, hair hold, arm holds, etc. It is not a self defense class.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I still keep a heavy steel stapler in a desk drawer at work because of the value as an impact weapon.

Is it a red Swingline that you brought from home ..?

 

[gwpercle]

For Lunch Time ... KaBar makes some awesome Tactical ... CHOP STICKS !!!
They are great to eat with and you can perferate someone easily and you have TWO ,
I bought my daughter and wife each two sets ...
Gary

 

[Madcap_Magician]

I like Tactile Turn pens, they take Pilot G2 refills, which are cheap and write well, and the Unbreakable Umbrella. Those plus a heavy padlock in a calf-length sock are my non-permissive environment choices.

 

[hso]

Is it a red Swingline that you brought from home ..?

Government grey Swingline I brought from my old laboratory.




The "red Swingline" is in my "office space" at home.

For heavy hitting, the 34121 long reach Swingline I have on top of the bookcase is the Louisville Slugger of staplers.

 

[hso]

I also have a Fisher Clutch.

 

[CapnMac]

someone everyone knows to be healthy carrying a cane could be pretty obvious

A person reaches a certain age, and you can blame the weather, exuberant extended family (nephews, nieces, grandkids, etc), even a "touch of joint stiffness."
And, if not used for weight support, there's good use of a can for stability--as in not tipping over. (One is not required to reveal the likelihood of tipping over.)

And, it can be a good "alternate" if a person lives in a place that, say, gets less than 12" of rain per year, which can make an umbrella seem a trifle out of character. And, if even in those places with 60"+ of rain, not all the days are wet enough for an umbrella.

And, not all canes are canes. Hiking sticks, camera monopods, and the like, are perfectly innocuous, yet available to need. For that matter, a sturdy camera tripod could be stationed in a fixed classroom setting. While not the best graspable bludgeon, it would be "better than nothing."

 

[westernrover]

For less-lethals, it's hard not to commend OC spray. The physically infirm can deploy it effectively and it's highly effective with very minimal training (compared to kubotans and tactical pens).

For expedient implements of defense, something stout with a good length is ideal. I would far rather have a mop or broom handle than a tactical pen. Understandably, an umbrella or cane is about as long as practical for carry, but if we're not talking about staplers for carry, then for those implements that are just kept around to be handy, I would think some kind of polearm is preferable to a club, blade, or missile. It's been said that one man with a spear can keep 10 men with swords inside a doorway.



Obviously, the length that gives it an advantage can be inappropriate in some contexts. I wouldn't carry one for use in my car. That's where the cane, umbrella, or escrima stick would be more appropriate and being seated inside the car would call for something shorter still.

 

[hso]

The unbreakable umbrella serves both as cane and as shield against the rain. Not wanting to leave it behind whether a gimpy knee or gusty weather crops up allows it to be carried regardless of conditions since conditions change.

 

[chaim]

THIS x1000

Teachers darn well better be versed in what techniques and restrictions they can apply in a self defense situation with a student. While it differs slightly by state in regards to students in general education, students who are in special education come under federal law as well. Certain restraints used on Live PD every Saturday night by police officers will get a teacher fired.

My school district provides training in "nonviolent crisis intervention" that is designed to deescalate a physically aggressive student. It covers restraints and transport techniques for violent or aggressive students, some defensive techniques for the teacher such as stance, blocking strikes and kicks, can escape a chokehold, hair hold, arm holds, etc. It is not a self defense class.

I am talking about defense from a school shooter. I'm not too worried about being fired for defending myself and my class from an adult or a student who is shooting up the school. Where I discussed other situations, it was only based on a direct comment from someone here, I said I've never personally been attacked, I only discussed breaking up fights (until a student injured me, and to be clear, part of why I was so easily injured is I couldn't do much of anything to defend myself when he pushed me), and I mentioned my CPI (Crisis Prevention and Intervention) training. Beyond blocking and holding moves, I would never use any self defense techniques on a student if attacked (and they aren't using lethal force), though I do know teachers who say if they are attacked all bets are off and (at least claim) they are willing to risk their job and fully fight back. Luckily for all of us, it is exceedingly rare for a student to physically attack a teacher (even in districts where it seems to happen regularly, when you look at the actual frequency it is still rare).

 

[dogtown tom]

..... Luckily for all of us, it is exceedingly rare for a student to physically attack a teacher (even in districts where it seems to happen regularly, when you look at the actual frequency it is still rare).

This is true. But the internet seems to think its a daily or weekly occurrence for every school.
Our district has police officers at every secondary campus, so any shenanigans or tomfoolery gets shut down pronto.

 

[hso]

Powertac Scholar is frequently carried. The flashlight makes it handy most days.

 

[chaim]

This is true. But the internet seems to think its a daily or weekly occurrence for every school.
Our district has police officers at every secondary campus, so any shenanigans or tomfoolery gets shut down pronto.

Here, the high schools have SROs, but since last year I have taught middle school and only a few of our county's middle schools have officers assigned to the school (we all used to have one, my school had one at the start of last school year, but they were moved out of the lower incidence middle schools early last year to send them to some of the more intense high schools). I was used to having an officer in the building after years of high school and at first I was a bit concerned. Between being a big guy, suburban middle school students being more compliant than Title I high school students, and just being good at building rapport with the students (not just mine in my class but also kids I only see in the hall), I don't have any problems with the kids. There have been one or two parents I've not been 100% sure of, and of course, we're on our own for a while if there ever is a school shooting. Rare enough I'm not risking my career and even my freedom to carry anything that law enforcement would consider a weapon, but high stakes enough I want options I can use should the unthinkable happen here.

 

[JShirley]

Pockets can also hide other items like knives, that aren't made out of metal and won't set off a metal detector.

No, no, no. Do not carry a knife in this environment.

 

[JShirley]

I am talking about defense from a school shooter. I'm not too worried about being fired for defending myself and my class from an adult or a student who is shooting up the school. Where I discussed other situations, it was only based on a direct comment from someone here, I said I've never personally been attacked, I only discussed breaking up fights (until a student injured me, and to be clear, part of why I was so easily injured is I couldn't do much of anything to defend myself when he pushed me), and I mentioned my CPI (Crisis Prevention and Intervention) training. Beyond blocking and holding moves, I would never use any self defense techniques on a student if attacked (and they aren't using lethal force), though I do know teachers who say if they are attacked all bets are off and (at least claim) they are willing to risk their job and fully fight back. Luckily for all of us, it is exceedingly rare for a student to physically attack a teacher (even in districts where it seems to happen regularly, when you look at the actual frequency it is still rare).

Crisis Prevention Intervention, if it's the same system I was taught, is not only barely effective, it requires at least 2 defenders to execute.

 

[chaim]

No, no, no. Do not carry a knife in this environment.

Even a Swiss Army Knife which is clearly not meant as a weapon can get us into big legal trouble (not fired, jailed).

Crisis Prevention Intervention, if it's the same system I was taught, is not only barely effective, it requires at least 2 defenders to execute.

CPI is OK but not great. It is best with 2 people but I do remember some solo movement and restraint techniques. I liked the system we used at the psych hospital much more. It was designed for 2 or more people to execute (and we weren't allowed to restrain people alone due to the increased chance of injury to both us and the patient), but it definitely was more effective. It was a better system, we were better trained on it, and we were well practiced on it (in all units we had to use it at least weekly, on some units we had to use it multiple times a day).

 

[JShirley]

Interesting. The crisis prevention intervention I was taught was always a two-person system, and it is what we used at the Crisis Support Center (drug rehab and observation unit). I found the so-called Aikido Control Training (used in juvenile corrections) much more effective.