(TN) Firearms safety course in schools runs into trouble

[Drizzt]

Firearms safety course in schools runs into trouble

An elementary school in Carthage has canceled a hunting safety course after receiving calls from parents, concerned their children must fire a gun to receive the certificate.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency hunter education administrator Don Crawford says the course isn't just for hunters and says it's "great knowledge for any kid."

Union Heights Elementary in Carthage had planned to teach a three-week course as part of a physical education program for about 40 sixth-graders. It would have ended with a 100-question test and an exercise where they would be expected to show they could safely handle and use a gun.

Smith County Schools canceled the course after parents complained their children would be expected to use a firearm. Board members said they didn't know about the course until they started receiving phone calls from upset parents.

Board member Terry Hunt says the course was at odds with the zero-tolerance policy concerning guns at school.

In Sevier County, school officials said all seventh-grade students are expected to take the course, but pupils are allowed to opt out. The course is also part of the curriculum in the DeKalb County schools.

Several other systems allow the course to be taught outside the regular curriculum.

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=32983

 

[akodo]

to me, freedom is about choice, yours and mine might be different.

You may choose to not want your kids involved with guns, that is your right. Hence I don't blame such parents for complaining about a course that requires a kid to fire a gun.

now, that doesn't mean that the entire course needs to be canceled, those kids whose parents don't want them to actually touch a gun need simply have an alternate class to send their kid to.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Smith County Schools canceled the course after parents complained their children would be expected to use a firearm.

I want my kid to remain completely ignorant, so all kids must remain completely ignorant.

Stalin surely would have understood.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I think that's great you can take a hunter's safety class in school in some states. Too bad the sheeple want everyone's child to remain ignorant. I had to sign up for hunter's safety and do it on weeknights at a community college when I was 12 or so.
"Those children who opt-out will instead take an alternate course dealing with hopolophobia and possible treatments"

 

[scout26]

Whew, I was worried there for a second thinking that something bad had happened. Boy, was I relieved to see that it was just a bunch of blissninnies having histronics.

"Those children who opt-out will instead take an alternate course dealing with how to quickly assume the fetal position and beg for mercy from your attacker."

 

[hellinpetticoats]

Maybe the real reason for canceling was 'cause that wounded DEA guy was gonna be the teacher.

While I think every kid should learn gun handling basics, as a parent, I sure would like to know who was doing the instructing before I'd want my kid to participate.

 

[Spot77]

[I think that's great you can take a hunter's safety class in school in some states./QUOTE]

I've long held the opinion that schools should educate children in the basics - math, English etc, but they should also teach basic skills needed to live in today's society; driving a car (you spend a huge part of your life behind the wheel - why do some schools charge extra for this class and others don't offer it at all?) and basic firearm safety are prime examples.

 

[hso]

For anyone that wants to send a well worded sane email to the Smith County Board of Education (emphasis on sane and well worded please) here's their website http://boe.smithcounty.com/ . Please no flames. The best way to reach these folks is to use positives instead of tossing flaming bombs. Remember that they're a rural school board that's had some ninny parents call all upset over the idea that little Johnny might touch a gun instead of realizing it's a safety course that will make their little sprout safer.