The students understood

[Hasaf]

Today (yes, already, it was done in the Home Room time) we had another ALICE drill After it I did the usual "post-op" comments that the teachers are supposed to do with their classes. Keep in mind, my students are 13-15 years old.

The thing I talked to them about was teachers and texting. I started by pointing out that none of their teachers are carrying guns (yes, the word "guns" but these are kids, trying to use correct terms would add confusion, not clarity). That was followed with "However, if you are in a class and a teacher has it out and aimed at the door, or otherwise is securing the room,to Never text anything about that during the incident. The reason is that by the time that text gets to the police, they will read 'Mrs. X has the gun!'"

"You can talk about it to your friends after everything is over, but never text that during the incident."

They then threw a few "But what if . . . " I answered those with a short explanation of what Never means. They got it.

That prompted a short discussion of what the law regarding teachers and guns is. However, they got the never text about a gun during the incident and understood the reason. In the context of that discussion, the students seemed very open to the idea of armed teachers.


Yes, I know, texting. . . I am a strong advocate of banning cell-phones at school; but that is another discussion. I have to work with the world I am in, not the one I would like to be in.

 

[ontarget]

Utah allows for teachers to carry in schools? Good for Utah. I wish every state would at least consider it. At least give the districts a choice.
I'm glad your students understand the seriousness of the situation if the staff ever needs to resort to armed response.

 

[Bbear]

Texas has quite a number of schools with teacher's that carry.

 

[Hasaf]

Utah allows for teachers to carry in schools? Good for Utah. I wish every state would at least consider it. At least give the districts a choice.
I'm glad your students understand the seriousness of the situation if the staff ever needs to resort to armed response.

Utah has allowed it for over eight years. So far, in all that time, there has only been one accidental discharge, the shot killed a toilet (not trying to diminish it, but I can actually see how that particular AD could happen). I am signed up to take the seven week "Critical Incident" class this summer.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I doubt WA will ever pass legislation that will allow teachers to be trained and carry in the classroom.

Even with a CPL I can't carry in a school for any reason and neither can anyone else except LE in their official capacity. We've had a mass shooting by a student in a school not far from me and it didn't get us anything but a UBC. Go figure.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Wow
After having my classroom shot up, when I didn’t jump in the anti gun bandwagon and some of my peers learned that I had a conceal carry permit, they started a false rumor that I was illegally carrying.

This was at a college, and I was shocked how far the left has taken over our education system. Attempts to teach the lessons I learned were rebuked because I didn’t cower under a desk and do what they felt I should have done. To them it was better to do a coward than to fight and live. So instead of being honored for saving lives I didn’t have my contract renewed.

Anyway I feel for anyone who teaches and hope that things improve. I know I’ll never teach again and I fear for our future with the lies that are taught.

 

[doubleh]

I saw on the news last night that students from NM are on their way to Washington, DC to tell our lawmakers what they should do to make schools safe. They won paid trips in some contest. No mention of who arranged the contest or is providing the money for this. I would guess it is an anti gun group and they had to provide the answers the group wanted to be chosen but this is just speculation on my part.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I saw on the news last night that students from NM are on their way to Washington, DC to tell our lawmakers what they should do to make schools safe. They won paid trips in some contest. No mention of who arranged the contest or is providing the money for this. I would guess it is an anti gun group and they had to provide the answers the group wanted to be chosen but this is just speculation on my part.

The same thing here. Students from a local HS are going to march in DC. The funding was by the students raising money thru contributions. No doubt they had a lot of contributions from the locals, who are mostly liberal Seattle refugees.

High school students have been indoctrinated to believe it's OK to beg for money for things like trips to Europe and other recreational pursuits. The ones that actually leave home will find that a job will be required for their recreational pursuits in the real world. I think the next generation will mostly be socialists.

 

[Hasaf]

Utah allows for teachers to carry in schools? Good for Utah. I wish every state would at least consider it. At least give the districts a choice.
I'm glad your students understand the seriousness of the situation if the staff ever needs to resort to armed response.

Sorry, I realized that I only responded to half of your comment. In Utah the law is clear that the districts may not forbid a licensed teacher, who has a CCW, from carrying a firearm in their place of work (school). The state "Critical Incident" training is not required; but it is strongly encouraged.

This can be compared to the law in Kansas, where I teach. That is why I can only take the summer. In Kansas the law is that the district may allow (that is significantly weaker than Utah's "can not forbid"). The trouble with that, as I mentioned elsewhere, is that the School insurance carrier has refused to outline a procedure that would allow a district to allow.

Yesterday I was leaving with another teacher and she got talking about the upcoming summer. She asked what I would be doing, and seeing as she keeps a gun locked in her desk (shhhh. . . no one knows that) I felt safe in mentioning that a class that specifies both a minimum and recommended amount of ammunition sounds like a good class. As I told the Lt. at the sheriff's department in the class sign up interview. Firstly, I take training when it is available, it is somewhere between being my nature and my hobby. Secondly, the subject has come up here and I would like to be in a better position to say what Critical Incident training for teachers can be expected to look like and have more intelligent input when this is discussed.

Of course, I am also interested in preparing the path for me to teach in Utah at some point in the future. So meeting people and shaking some hands is in my mind. The problem is that, as teachers, we need to say is we are returning within a week of the beginning of Summer. I understand why the school needs this information. However, if we fail to show the district can, and this district will, put out a warrant (I really wonder what the quality of work a teacher who is teaching as terms of their probation will be, but that is a different matter). The fine for a 'no show' is over $5,000. That means that any plans to go elsewhere need to be made before the summer even begins. . . . and, this is a better paying school anyways (it definitely pays better than the college I was teaching at).

 

[ontarget]

Good idea for getting the extra training. I plan to take a class for advanced CC. It would satisfy the requirements proposed for exemption from gun free zones (schools) in MI if it passes. If it doesn't pass, well, I get some valuable extra training.

 

[hso]

Hassaf,

Another good point to make is that those texts might end up in a garbled form on the news real time leading to panic with their parents. A simple "We're barricaded in the room" informs family and friends of what they're most worried about.

 

[1911 guy]

Very good opening post. I would go further. If I were king...
If you are in a life threatening situation, texting should be VERY far down the totem pole of things you need to be doing and applying thought to. Text mommy and daddy when it's over.

If you are not in direct communication the the police, keep your bloody mouth bloody well shut. Any information passed through third (and fourth, and fifth...) channels will be distorted, useless and quite possibly detrimental because of inaccuracy. We can all chat about it when it's over. Related to this, there should be a number of people throughout the building who are responsible for calling the police, fire dept, EMS, etc. Communication is important, but it needs to be clear, concise and accurate. A thousand parents and students chattering away is the opposite of this.

 

[GEM]

Interesting discussion. Given some recent incidents where folks running from the police have been shot and found to be carrying only a phone, I would tell the kids that when we flee, put the phone away!

A kid running down the hall with a phone, may not hear the command to drop it or stupidly decide to take pictures and bang.