An Armed Presence in Schools?

                It has been several weeks since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary.  The nation has heard the call for gun control from President Obama and the call for armed staff in schools from the National Rifle Association (NRA).  However, it is the response from school districts across the country that is most disturbing.

                As students returned from winter break, many came back to school to see armed police roaming the hallways.  It was also reported that teachers and administrators in some states would be given fire arms training and carry weapons.  After what occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary, you would think the response from school districts would be contrary to the call from the NRA.

                The ill-conceived reactionary response by district leaders to place armed police inside school buildings shows a lack of sensitivity to students and staff.  Before the decision was made to place armed police in schools, staff and students should have been given the opportunity to have their concerns heard.  There was no reason for district leaders to make a rush decision.  If district leaders would have allowed for the input of students and staff, they may have heard concerns that may have changed there minds and consider other options.

                One of the concerns district leaders would have heard is having armed police inside a school building changes the dynamic of the school climate and discipline policy.  Police are not trained to work in schools, they are unfamiliar with school discipline policies, and they are trained to investigate, prevent and stop violations of the criminal law code.  Police are trained to view the law in “black or white,” there is no grey area, that’s for the District Attorney to decide.  As educators, we know school discipline policies such as fighting or threats to harm, petty theft, even personal consumption of drugs are dealt with differently according to the circumstances surrounding the offense.  For example: 1) was the offense a result of adolescent immaturity (i.e.: horseplay taken too far)? 2) Was anyone injured? 3) Was there an intent to sell or is it personal consumption?  4) Are the student(s) first time offenders or multiple offenders? Lastly, is the consequence for the violation a suspension, expulsion, or an arrest?  Educators understand the culture of the school and are better prepared to make a fair judgment in the best interest of students and the school

                District leaders may have also heard from students and staff on the best response to this tragedy was to rally the school together to have discussions/trainings on school safety.  Students and staff could be taught how to recognize and respond if a life-threatening incident should occur in their school.  District resources could be used on implementing an emergency response system that would inform students, staff and law enforcement in the event of a life-threatening occurrence.

                Instead of placing armed police inside school buildings, district leaders should be “arming” students and staff with knowledge and implementing an emergency system that could prevent or greatly diminish the harm to students and staff.