DeVos Gives Quiet Nod To Arming Teachers
Source: NBC News
WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration's new school safety report, released Tuesday, encourages districts to consider arming school personnel, praises state programs that arm teachers and suggests that schools could use federal funds to train staff to use firearms. But the report does so quietly, after the idea of arming teachers faced fierce opposition, including during the Federal Commission on School Safety's two-month "listening tour" in some of the nation's reddest states.
The long-awaited report from the commission, chaired by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, does not explicitly recommend that schools provide teachers with firearms, but lauds various state programs that arm teachers. Stressing the need for specially trained school personnel to respond to "acts of violence," the commission commends divisive initiatives that allow teachers and other staff members to carry guns in South Dakota, Texas and Arkansas for offering "effective training programs," according to the report.
An Education Department official, who asked not to be identified as he was not authorized to speak to the press, said the report was a clear endorsement of arming teachers. "When the department provides information on best practices, it does so for schools to conduct those practices," he said. "They are very direct about the idea of arming teachers, saying, 'This is what you should do.'"
The Education Department denied that the federal government is telling states to arm teachers. The department's recommendations reflect "practices that are already working in many communities across the country," spokesperson Liz Hill said. "The commission's goal has been to identify state and local practices and policies for lawmakers and local officials to learn from and consider, rather than mandating or dictating solutions." -MORE...
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The report follows a 2-month, national 'listening tour' of 8, mostly red states with strong gun culture, incl. WA, WY, KY and AL. Attendees comprised teachers, parents and education experts with many that argued against arming teachers.
An Auburn (AL) Univ. history professor who is "a passionate defender of the Second Amendment," strongly argued against armed teachers. A retired KY teacher said, "Arm us, instead, with the mental health support that is needed. Arm us with smaller class sizes, ways to fight poverty. Give us common-sense gun control." A WY private security co. that provides firearm training to educators was the strongest arms supporter.
After Tuesday's report release, some attendees voiced concerns: "These people want to put guns in these kids' schools," said the Auburn Univ. professor (Jortner), "They're going to arm teachers, and more kids are going to die of firearm misuse because of this report."
Trump meets with DeVos at a roundtable discussion of the Federal Commission School Safety report.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Armed teacher on the move looking for the shooter.
Police come in blazing.
See armed person.
Just what they are looking for.
I cannot believe that professional suburban parents (even the conservatives) would want their kids going to a school with armed teachers and administrators. This is wrong on so many levels. Why does the Trump administration enable the possibility of a needless tragedy before people will recognize the lunacy? No firearms of any kind in schools! Do not lay this responsibility on teachers who are already carrying a heavy load as it is.
