May 28, 2022

Educators Reject Republican Proposal for Arming Teachers

A America has seen a spate of violent attacks in the past few months. However, the most high-profile was at the Robb elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The incident saw a gunman kill 19 children and two adults. The news did not just shock the United States of America but the world too, and in light of recent events, there have been calls for stringent measures to curb violence.

While there have been calls for gun control, Republicans have raised a proposal to arm teachers in all American schools. However, the plan has not gone well with educators, many of whom have rejected the proposal accusing Republican politicians of fending off calls for gun control. Many American educators have also said that the Republican proposal is a distraction. Educators in America believe that any arms manufacturers fund and support the Republicans.

“If they cared at all, something would have been done. It would have been done after Columbine. Until they start caring more about people’s lives than worrying about their donations and their careers and their power, this will never end. They’ll have another one, next week, next month, whatever it is – this is going to continue, and it’ll never stop until they decide to put an end to it” said Jim Gard, a high school maths teacher in Broward County, Florida.

…teachers were thrown under the bus for Covid and are putting their lives on the line every day to protect our kids, we are tired of the lack of support from management, government officials and the public…

Elizabeth Boyd Graham, a Houston based teacher, said that there are already provisions for teachers and school staff to carry concealed weapons, and it has not made a difference. “If more guns made it safer, we’d be the safest country, but we’re not. The states with the weakest gun laws have the highest gun violence,” she said.

Rose Malani Ott from Ohio has over 30 years of teaching experience. Speaking to the press, she said that her school has active shooter drills, secure entrances, and a heavy police presence. She further argues that such proposals put immense pressure on school staff and teachers. “I am so sick of people who don’t know anything about schools blaming teachers for everything,” said Malani Ott. “Teachers were thrown under the bus for Covid and are putting their lives on the line every day to protect our kids. We are tired of the lack of support from management, government officials and the public,” she said.

In a 2019 survey on the issue, more than 2,900 American teachers were against teachers carrying weapons to school.

Posted in News and tagged News, Gun Control, American Schools, Robb Elementary
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