Comments on: Guns in schools http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:30:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Anz http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69794 Anz Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:37:59 +0000 http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69794 We had armed police officers at my highschool in Canton, Georgia USA, beginning my junior year. That was around 1999-2001. Words I would use to describe seeing armed 'authority figures' at my school: awkward, uncomfortable, creepy; not safe and welcome. Maybe I'm off the mark but it seems like forced conditioning. I wonder if the kids today, at my old highschool, take any notice of the cops with guns hanging out in the halls? We had armed police officers at my highschool in Canton, Georgia USA, beginning my junior year. That was around 1999-2001. Words I would use to describe seeing armed ‘authority figures’ at my school: awkward, uncomfortable, creepy; not safe and welcome. Maybe I’m off the mark but it seems like forced conditioning. I wonder if the kids today, at my old highschool, take any notice of the cops with guns hanging out in the halls?

]]> By: Quin http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69723 Quin Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:50:06 +0000 http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69723 Maybe the solution is to stock the schools with firearm-wielding social workers. Maybe the solution is to stock the schools with firearm-wielding social workers.

]]> By: Lisa Kansas http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69714 Lisa Kansas Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:51:03 +0000 http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69714 Just to interject a note of secondhand experience--after my first husband and I separated, so that he could spend more time with the boys, he switched from being an off-shift patrol officer to an SRO, or school resource officer, for a local middle school. (No, he wasn't armed on school grounds.) He actually ended up helping out a lot of kids--got one kid some very needed help after an abortive suicide attempt--and was pretty well-liked at the school; they were sorry to see him go a few years later. Of course, none of the kids there were armed themselves, and they were middle schoolers and he was 6'3" and 200 lbs with a shaved head, so maybe that explains why it all worked out so well. Just to interject a note of secondhand experience–after my first husband and I separated, so that he could spend more time with the boys, he switched from being an off-shift patrol officer to an SRO, or school resource officer, for a local middle school. (No, he wasn’t armed on school grounds.) He actually ended up helping out a lot of kids–got one kid some very needed help after an abortive suicide attempt–and was pretty well-liked at the school; they were sorry to see him go a few years later. Of course, none of the kids there were armed themselves, and they were middle schoolers and he was 6′3″ and 200 lbs with a shaved head, so maybe that explains why it all worked out so well.

]]> By: Sabotabby http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69713 Sabotabby Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:47:06 +0000 http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69713 That's a good point. I really want the social workers back in schools. And Educational Assistants. I think everyone who's ever worked in an urban public high school understands the value of the social workers. I think they even cost less than the cops do. That’s a good point. I really want the social workers back in schools. And Educational Assistants. I think everyone who’s ever worked in an urban public high school understands the value of the social workers. I think they even cost less than the cops do.

]]> By: zingerella http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69707 zingerella Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:50:23 +0000 http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69707 I'm really, really angry about this. Why have I not hear about police officers in schools until now? There's no money to have a public health nurses in every school, or to keep swimming pools open, but there's money for armed police officers? If we're trying to teach students about community, wouldn't it be better to have a community ombudsperson in every school? Or a social worker? Sigh. I really, really want to believe in public education. I really, really want to be comfortable sending my eventual progeny to Toronto public schools. I don't want to opt out. But I don't want my kid going to schools that have police officers but no public health nurses. I don't want my kid learning that conflict resolution is a matter for the police (except as a last-ditch effort, when someone is in actual, physical danger). I'm writing a letter. Lots of letters. I’m really, really angry about this. Why have I not hear about police officers in schools until now? There’s no money to have a public health nurses in every school, or to keep swimming pools open, but there’s money for armed police officers?

If we’re trying to teach students about community, wouldn’t it be better to have a community ombudsperson in every school? Or a social worker?

Sigh. I really, really want to believe in public education. I really, really want to be comfortable sending my eventual progeny to Toronto public schools. I don’t want to opt out. But I don’t want my kid going to schools that have police officers but no public health nurses. I don’t want my kid learning that conflict resolution is a matter for the police (except as a last-ditch effort, when someone is in actual, physical danger).

I’m writing a letter. Lots of letters.

]]> By: Antigone http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69659 Antigone Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:37:17 +0000 http://punkassblog.com/2008/06/25/guns-in-schools/#comment-69659 Now, see, I'm ok with guns in school. (Provided they are either locked in the principle's office or locked in one's car). What I'm not okay with is armed police officers in school. Now, see, I’m ok with guns in school. (Provided they are either locked in the principle’s office or locked in one’s car).

What I’m not okay with is armed police officers in school.

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