It's been one month since I had a student threaten to kill me. I've had a lot of time to reflect on the situation. I don't know what sort of long-term impact it will have on me. Initially, I thought that teaching was not for me anymore. Then, I had colleagues tell me that they had been threatened. I was shocked that so many teachers had been through something similar in the past. Although, it was inspiring to know that others have been able to come back from something like.
I've had some time off. The position I was subbing for was filled. Now I'm subbing for a lady on maternity leave. I still do not feel safe in the building. I continue to scan rooms and look around in the halls. Even though I do not feel as safe as I would like, I've found that I missed being able to teach students.
I devoted my blog to looking school violence issues. I research a number of preventative measures. The most important thing I've learned is that you cannot take anything for granted. Grade point average and discipline record in no way indicates how sincere a threat of violence is.
This has not been an entirely negative experience for me. I've seen how wonderful the staff is that I get to work with. They have given me so much support. I could not imagine working with another group of people. I'm growing as a person and as an educator. Specifically, I've chose to no longer be naive. I'm making a concentrated effort to be aware of my surroundings. I realize that there is no foolproof safety measure a school can take to deter violence, unless we turn our work environments into a prison. We can't control the mindset and behavior of others. We can, however, control ours. I know I've got to remain positive and empower myself to be vigilant in paying attention to the things that go on around me.
Thanks for listening. I've enjoyed blogging about school violence. I hope you've learned something that will be useful in the future.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Gun Violence Pledge
I have investigated a number of school safety measures administrators and teachers can implement. I've discovered one that asks students to be responsible for schools safe. It's called the Student Gun Violence Pledge. You can visit their website at http://www.pledge.org/ .
According to the website, this concept evolved from the Senate in 1996. It was called the Day of National Concern About Young People and Gun Violence. President Clinton made it an official presidential proclamation. Over ten years later it is still going strong. Each year a day in the month of October is disignated for students to sign a pledge. There has been a tremendous amount of participation thus far. I believe the website showed 2.4 million students had taken the pledge in 2000. So, you can only imagine how many people have been a part of this pledge since then.
Students sign a pledge card promising not to bring a gun to school, not to resort to using a gun to solve an argument, and to encourage friends not to use guns as a means of resolving an issue. In addition to the pledge the website offers some ideas for implementing the Day of National Concern About Young and Gun Violence.
This is a great way for students to take ownership of their behavior. This pledge allows students to contribute to school safety. Most school safety measures invovle fancy equipment or elaborate plans. Instead, students take responsibility for their own actions in order to keep the school safe. Kids become part of the solution.
This reminded me so much of pledges to remain alcohol free that SADD hands out during prom. Although well intentioned, many of the kids who sign those promise cards drink anyways. Even the "good" students slip up and get caught drinking. I've known peers that signed the alcohol promise card in high school; then, turned around and got drunk at Prom.
Is that what this student pledge against gun violence is like? Students pledge not to bring guns to school, but do anyway. Almost everyone would agree that a student who committs violence at school was mentally disturbed. No one in their right mind walks into a school and carries out a violent act. Is a person in a deranged state of mind thinking about a pledge they signed a few months before never to bring a gun to school? Is the promise not to solve an arguement with gun violence in the back of your head when you are provoked and in the heat of the moment?
I have no doubt that this student pledge against gun violence is well intentioned. However, I think it keeps the honest man honest. Those people that value their word will keep their promise. Those people that don't care and signed it so they didn't look bad will not take it as seriously. Those students who are distraught will not consider the pledge before doing something drastic.
The pledge is an interesting concept. It allows students to take an active role in promoting school safety. I am skeptical, though, as to how effective it is in deterring violence. So, what do you think?
According to the website, this concept evolved from the Senate in 1996. It was called the Day of National Concern About Young People and Gun Violence. President Clinton made it an official presidential proclamation. Over ten years later it is still going strong. Each year a day in the month of October is disignated for students to sign a pledge. There has been a tremendous amount of participation thus far. I believe the website showed 2.4 million students had taken the pledge in 2000. So, you can only imagine how many people have been a part of this pledge since then.
Students sign a pledge card promising not to bring a gun to school, not to resort to using a gun to solve an argument, and to encourage friends not to use guns as a means of resolving an issue. In addition to the pledge the website offers some ideas for implementing the Day of National Concern About Young and Gun Violence.
This is a great way for students to take ownership of their behavior. This pledge allows students to contribute to school safety. Most school safety measures invovle fancy equipment or elaborate plans. Instead, students take responsibility for their own actions in order to keep the school safe. Kids become part of the solution.
This reminded me so much of pledges to remain alcohol free that SADD hands out during prom. Although well intentioned, many of the kids who sign those promise cards drink anyways. Even the "good" students slip up and get caught drinking. I've known peers that signed the alcohol promise card in high school; then, turned around and got drunk at Prom.
Is that what this student pledge against gun violence is like? Students pledge not to bring guns to school, but do anyway. Almost everyone would agree that a student who committs violence at school was mentally disturbed. No one in their right mind walks into a school and carries out a violent act. Is a person in a deranged state of mind thinking about a pledge they signed a few months before never to bring a gun to school? Is the promise not to solve an arguement with gun violence in the back of your head when you are provoked and in the heat of the moment?
I have no doubt that this student pledge against gun violence is well intentioned. However, I think it keeps the honest man honest. Those people that value their word will keep their promise. Those people that don't care and signed it so they didn't look bad will not take it as seriously. Those students who are distraught will not consider the pledge before doing something drastic.
The pledge is an interesting concept. It allows students to take an active role in promoting school safety. I am skeptical, though, as to how effective it is in deterring violence. So, what do you think?
Monday, February 11, 2008
Arming Teachers
Someone suggested to me after being threatened by a student that I think about getting a license to carry a concealed weapon. I pointed out that even if you have a license to carry that concealed weapon you are not permitted to bring it on school property. Besides, I would not feel comfotable with a gun. I do believe everyone has the right to protect themselves, but a gun is not the option for me.
I've devoted this blog to telling my story and researching school violence prevention. I have looked at puchasing school safety plans, metal detectors, and steps a teacher can take to prevent school violence. I would like to turn my attention to the most controversial preventative measure of them all: arming teachers with guns. I found this article about arming educators in Utah. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/17/earlyshow/main2096721.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME2096721
The number of school shootings that have taken place in the last ten years is unsettling. Parents and communities want solutions. Proponets argue that giving teachers a firearm is the only way to effectively deal with school violence. A teacher on the premisis with a gun would get to the scene much faster than police could. These people also claim that armed teachers would serve as a deterrent to prevent school violence in the first place. Utah has actually held teacher firearm training sessions.
One Republican Senator, Frank Lasee from Wisconsin, wants to implement legislation that would allow this. He proposes we train teachers how to use a firearm and then put those guns in a safely locked place. He uses examples of armed teachers from Israel and Thailand to show that arming teachers is known to work.
I subbed last year in a Teen Literature class. They were reading Shooter, a book about a school shooting. The lesson plan was to have a class discussion about arming teachers as a way of deterring school violence. The kids thought it was a terrible idea. Many of them said they would not feel any safer knowing their teacher had a weapon. Although, they did say they might behave better. Almost all of them said they would be fearful to go to class knowing a teacher had a gun.
I do not feel we should allow teachers to carry guns. Yes, guns do deterr crime; however, it is a huge responsibility and liability to have guns on school grounds in the presence of kids. A child could accidently injur him/herself if h/she were to stumble upon the weapon. In dealing with larger kids, teachers must know how to protect their gun at all times, much like a police officers. Kids could try to take away a weapon to use for an attack.
Isn't this idea hypocritical. We preach to our kids that violence doesn't solve anything. We talk about why it is dangerous to bring a gun to school. We encourage students to speak up when they hear a threat. However, we have no problem allowing teachers to bring a guns to school. I believe as adults we should set good examples for our students to follow. Bringing a gun to school would not be the best behavior to model for them.
Where would a teacher keep a gun, anyways ? In a desk? In a locked cabinet? On their person? Well, you can't keep it adequately locked up in a desk. Anyone in the room would have access to the gun, which defeats the purpose of using it as a deterrent. If you lock the gun in a cabinet it may be too time consuming or too dangerous to retrieve it when needed. I would not be comfortable wearing a gun. I imagine it would be bulky and get in the way.
I think everyone is missing the most obvious fault of this plan. Teachers are just as capable as students of going off the deep end and going on a shooting rampage. If we allow teachers to arm themselves we have made it very easy for a stressed out teacher, intent to harm someone, to carryout his/her act. We even sponsored it by providing the training on how to fire the gun.
I can understand how having a weapon would offer peace of mind to a teacher in the event of school violence. However, I do not think that guns have a place in our schools. Whether a teacher or a student is carrying a weapon there is always the potential for violence. Where do you stand on the issue.
I've devoted this blog to telling my story and researching school violence prevention. I have looked at puchasing school safety plans, metal detectors, and steps a teacher can take to prevent school violence. I would like to turn my attention to the most controversial preventative measure of them all: arming teachers with guns. I found this article about arming educators in Utah. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/17/earlyshow/main2096721.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME2096721
The number of school shootings that have taken place in the last ten years is unsettling. Parents and communities want solutions. Proponets argue that giving teachers a firearm is the only way to effectively deal with school violence. A teacher on the premisis with a gun would get to the scene much faster than police could. These people also claim that armed teachers would serve as a deterrent to prevent school violence in the first place. Utah has actually held teacher firearm training sessions.
One Republican Senator, Frank Lasee from Wisconsin, wants to implement legislation that would allow this. He proposes we train teachers how to use a firearm and then put those guns in a safely locked place. He uses examples of armed teachers from Israel and Thailand to show that arming teachers is known to work.
I subbed last year in a Teen Literature class. They were reading Shooter, a book about a school shooting. The lesson plan was to have a class discussion about arming teachers as a way of deterring school violence. The kids thought it was a terrible idea. Many of them said they would not feel any safer knowing their teacher had a weapon. Although, they did say they might behave better. Almost all of them said they would be fearful to go to class knowing a teacher had a gun.
I do not feel we should allow teachers to carry guns. Yes, guns do deterr crime; however, it is a huge responsibility and liability to have guns on school grounds in the presence of kids. A child could accidently injur him/herself if h/she were to stumble upon the weapon. In dealing with larger kids, teachers must know how to protect their gun at all times, much like a police officers. Kids could try to take away a weapon to use for an attack.
Isn't this idea hypocritical. We preach to our kids that violence doesn't solve anything. We talk about why it is dangerous to bring a gun to school. We encourage students to speak up when they hear a threat. However, we have no problem allowing teachers to bring a guns to school. I believe as adults we should set good examples for our students to follow. Bringing a gun to school would not be the best behavior to model for them.
Where would a teacher keep a gun, anyways ? In a desk? In a locked cabinet? On their person? Well, you can't keep it adequately locked up in a desk. Anyone in the room would have access to the gun, which defeats the purpose of using it as a deterrent. If you lock the gun in a cabinet it may be too time consuming or too dangerous to retrieve it when needed. I would not be comfortable wearing a gun. I imagine it would be bulky and get in the way.
I think everyone is missing the most obvious fault of this plan. Teachers are just as capable as students of going off the deep end and going on a shooting rampage. If we allow teachers to arm themselves we have made it very easy for a stressed out teacher, intent to harm someone, to carryout his/her act. We even sponsored it by providing the training on how to fire the gun.
I can understand how having a weapon would offer peace of mind to a teacher in the event of school violence. However, I do not think that guns have a place in our schools. Whether a teacher or a student is carrying a weapon there is always the potential for violence. Where do you stand on the issue.
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