June 06, 2022

NEA Rejects Calls to Arm Teachers: Call for Other Measures Instead

I In the wake of the recent shooting in Texas, there have been numerous calls to put in place gun measure controls. While most are in favour, others prefer different options. Once such is the Texas Attorney General. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, instead of calling for gun control, has suggested arming teachers.

Many people, including the NEA have rejected his plea, terming it as a way of escaping responsibility. This is not the first time that there have been rejections in arming teachers. The NEA released a report in 2020 on stopping gun violence in American schools, in the report, NEA termed arming teachers as a dangerous distraction. Teachers from different schools, too were not satisfied with the calls for arming teachers and school staff.

…rather than putting the responsibility on individual teachers, our elected leaders need to pass laws that protect children from gun violence and bring an end to senseless and preventable killings… Americans want the carnage to stop…

Rejecting the Texas Attorney’s call to arm teachers, NEA President Becky Pringle, said, “Our public schools should be the safest places for students and educators, yet the gunshots from a lone shooter armed with a military-grade weapon shattered the physical safety of the school community in Uvalde. The powerful gun lobby and their allies did not waste a second after the horrific killing of 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School to call for arming teachers. Bringing more guns into schools makes schools more dangerous and does nothing to shield our students and educators from gun violence. We need fewer guns in schools, not more. Teachers should be teaching, not acting as armed security guards.”

Adding further, Mrs. Becky said, “Educators and parents overwhelmingly reject the idea of arming school staff. Rather than arming educators with guns, we need to be giving them the tools needed to inspire their students. Rather than putting the responsibility on individual teachers, our elected leaders need to pass laws that protect children from gun violence and bring an end to senseless and preventable killings. Americans want the carnage to stop.”

Posted in News and tagged News, Texas, Uvalde, Shooting, Gun Control, NEA, Becky Pringle
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