Snippet of Outrage in Book Five: Working Through the Maze 2018
- Aug. 24, 2018, 8:52 a.m.
- |
- Public
This from the New York Times via BBC News: “The Department of Education (DoE) is looking at allowing states to use academic enrichment funds for firearms, the New York Times first reported.”
In the United States, some students are shamed and/or punished if they can’t afford a school lunch. Despite the fact that every research into the subject (and common sense) demonstrates that starving kids can’t focus on school.
In the United States, some students share their classroom with up to 40 or 50 other students and there is only one teacher. Despite the fact that every research into the subject (and common sense) demonstrate that a teacher able to serve students on a more individual basis is better for the student, the classroom, and education at large.
In the United States, many schools have defunded, eviscerated, or destroyed all of their Art, Music, Drama, and Vocational opportunities due to funding shortfalls. Despite the fact that every research into the subject (and common sense) demonstrate that the arts and vocational training in a Public School setting creates healthier, better adjusted, more well rounded, students and future leaders.
In the United States, many school districts are experiencing teacher shortages. One reason, of many, for this shortage is that teachers are paid abysmally compared to what they are required to do. Further, in order to effectively run their classrooms, many teachers spend their own money (without being reimbursed) on school supplies for their classroom and their students.
Every time I bring up these arguments to deride our Federal Government, someone is quick to point out that most of the funding issues are on a State level and that Federal funding is most supplemental. To their credit, they are correct. The majority of decisions about schools is a more local entity that spirals outwards. School Boards to State.
However, there is a way in which the Federal Government can exert control and influence over education spending. Grant Money. They could create a path for schools to access “Academic Enrichment Funds” in order to treat the immediate emergency. OR if we wanted to be proactive about things, allow access to the “Academic Enrichment Funds” for schools that have solid plans for how to NOT constantly be in financial emergency.
Instead… instead of the Department of Education prioritizing our children’s education… they are now acting like a branch of government being influenced by the National Rifle Association. I never expected DoE to become a lobbyist pawn of the NRA.
The Department of Education (DoE) is looking at allowing states to use academic enrichment funds for firearms.
I’ll just be over here stewing about “Money for Guns in Schools” and imagining a world where the headlines were “Money for Teachers in Schools.”
Pretend Mulling ⋅ August 24, 2018
This makes my blood boil. Not only on a common sense level, but also from my experiences as a substitute teacher and a teacher's assistant.
Firstly, putting guns in schools is a terrible idea because kids will find out where they are. Never, but never, underestimate a kid's ability to find something they want. If they can figure out how to bypass firewalls so they can get to porn sites on their school-issued computers (and yes, they do), they'll figure out where the guns are being stored, where the ammo is, and how to get both. This is just an invitation for weekly, or even daily, school shootings.
Secondly, while the vast majority of teachers are good, stable people, there is a small minority who are stressed to the breaking point, or who were unstable to begin with. If there are guns in school, what's to stop an unstable teacher from shooting up their school? Not a whole lot. I can name at least three teachers I had in K-12, and three I worked with, who I wouldn't want within 1000 feet of a gun, out of fear that they'd turn it on students.
Thirdly, let's say that, by some stretch of the imagination, the kids don't figure out where the gun is and the unstable/dangerous teachers don't, either. Let's also say that there's an active shooter situation in progress, and a thoroughly good-hearted teacher grabs one of the guns and confronts the shooter. Exactly how much training has either the teacher or the shooter had? More importantly, how much will they remember? Because if the teacher doesn't remember all of the protocols, s/he will start spraying bullets, which will cause even more injury and death! So much for the heroic teacher with a gun narrative, eh?
And finally, why is no one looking into why some kids shoot up their schools?! What we know about school shooters, in sum, is that they are male, usually white, and usually struggle academically and socially. They are often bullies (not bullied), and the other students often distance themselves from him out of fear for what he might do to them. That... Is not helpful at all. (And if I see one more "Walk UP, Not OUT" counter-protest, I will f'n scream. Especially since, in a few of the last shootings, the shooter was pissed over a girl exercising her right to not go on a date with a guy just because he asked.) What red flags are there that teachers, principals, counselors, and social workers should look for? If we know these, then we need to encourage early intervention. If needs be, remove the student from the mainstream educational environment and put them in an alternative school, where they'll be closely monitored (which is the point of alternative schools, and is also way better an option than throwing the kid in jail right away).
There are a hundred, even a thousand, better (and simpler) ideas for preventing school shootings than putting guns in schools, but not one of them is being looked at. Just... RAWR.
DevilishlyInnocent Pretend Mulling ⋅ August 24, 2018
^^This.
Deleted user ⋅ August 25, 2018
Guns for schools is unnecessary. I would be all for the NRA funding better school security.