School Shooting Newtown CT

[AXOmom]

Been a while since I've stopped by, but since I teach at an elementary school (K-8 charter) I've been reading most of the discussions on this topic in various forums I frequent.

CutiePie2000 - I can only speak for the schools where I've taught, had children attend, or visited - none were locked (well except for the juvenile detention facility where I taught - it obviously was and MAYBE an alternative school where I taught - I can't remember for sure on it). You could walk into any of them and while you were supposed to check into the office - at the bigger schools (primarily high schools) this rarely happened.

After several school shootings in the past (as a sad aside - I graudated from Columbine and student taught at Thurston HS), most schools talked about heightened security and for a while many did lock up and get stricter about checking in at the office, issuing visitor passes etc., but as with most things like this-as time goes by and people calm down - they get sloppy. Sandy Hook actually was locked and you had to show ID and buzz to get in - several stations noted this was unusual particularly for that area. This is why they said he broke in.

This week we started locking down our school again which has presented some challenges with our aftercare program which I also oversee. It's worth it to feel somewhat secure; it's also led to a lot of questions from the kids who are, of course, wondering about why we are suddenly changing procedures. They notice any little change in their routine.


**** A little off the subject but a point of clarification- A poster mentioned why trust teachers with guns if they don't trust us to unionize - Not that I want a gun, but we do, in fact, have unions in every state that I'm aware of and a strong national union.

[AlphaFrog]

My children's elementary school is not locked, and when.I stopped in on Wednesday, it was business as usual.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AXOmom

**** A little off the subject but a point of clarification- A poster mentioned why trust teachers with guns if they don't trust us to unionize - Not that I want a gun, but we do, in fact, have unions in every state that I'm aware of and a strong national union.

Continuing the side track just a bit, but in my state collective bargaining is (and always has been) prohibited for public employees, including teachers. The state organization affiliated with the NEA operates as a professional association.

Originally Posted by adpimiz

The schools in my hometown have had police there all week just in case because of the risk of "copycat" incidents. Not a bad idea.

I think I said this upthread, but where I live, all middle and high schools have at least one law enforcement officer in them. They're there not just for security in case of incidents like this, but also for drugs, violence from students, etc.

[SWTXBelle]

The most reasonable, facts-based response against gun control arguments I've seen:

http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/20...n-gun-control/

[SigKapSweetie]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

The most reasonable, facts-based response against gun control arguments I've seen:

http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/20...n-gun-control/

This is wonderful and I'm sharing it with everyone I know. It's scary to see people demanding changes in the law based on nothing more than their emotional response to a scary incident. The whole country could use some actual facts right now.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

The most reasonable, facts-based response against gun control arguments I've seen:

http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/20...n-gun-control/

That in no way, shape or form is reasonable or fact based. I'll give you that he has a lot of experience with guns, but the vast majority of that is OPINION.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Continuing the side track just a bit, but in my state collective bargaining is (and always has been) prohibited for public employees, including teachers. The state organization affiliated with the NEA operates as a professional association.

And there have been a string of states recently that have tried to either elminate or remove almost all power from the teacher's unions. There was a period of time here in Idaho where a teacher could be terminated from their contract and they didn't have to be given a reason why. Essentially they were held liable to the contract, but the schools weren't.