Better to use a stun gun than to risk harm to kids
A teacher at Hairston Middle School said in a News & Record story she had rather teach her kids about nonviolence. That’s good.
But how about the kid with the gun?
Evidently he hasn’t learned how to settle his differences nonviolently. How are you going to protect all the other children?
While you are teaching them about nonviolence, also teach them respect -- respect for their peers, their teachers and all who are in authority over them. Then you won’t have to worry about them being Tasered.
If parents and members of the school board would spend a little time in the classroom, they would see why stun guns are recommended. It is better to be shot with a stun gun than by a gun with real bullets.
R.P. Jessup
Greensboro
Comments (4)
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I agree with the LTE. With a taser, hopefully the officer can make contact with the problem while those nearby are not at risk.
Posted on September 7, 2006 7:43 AM
While I do agree with the LTE, there is something that should be said about weapons in general. There is no such thing as a non-lethal weapon.
It is true that stun guns and tasers are less likely to kill than bullets. However, given the right conditions a stun gun or taser can kill just as easily as firearm.
If we have gotten to the point where we need armed police officers to protect our children in schools, then it sounds like its time to change some laws (to protect teachers) and bring the paddle back to the classroom.
Posted on September 7, 2006 8:38 AM
"Bring the Paddle Back"--that's another form of violence. Depending on the type of paddle and who is administering the justice--alot of physical can be done.
We have been talking about class discipline, disruptive behavior, and violence in much of our correspondence here. There must be other wider and deeper or different issues that are more to the heart of these problems.
It's like the leaky roof--where the leak is and where it shows itself can be at two separate sites on the roof. So if you only patch where you see the water leaking then you will patch until you develop blisters or sell your house.
These issues are serious and are correspondingly complex and initially expensive to solve(?)Many students come to school with some serious personal and social baggage (school, home, neighborhood, money, ADHD, alcoholism, drug addiction, physical abuse, psychological abuse, pregnancies, abortions, learning disabilities, special needs, teacher burn out, school system burn out, parental infidelity and so on). These are not teachers' responsibilities but the school system has to find a way to address these issues in a SUBSTANTIVE WAY, not just token provisions (so that we can say that we offer help)
Posted on September 7, 2006 11:19 AM
I agree with Joe that we have many kids who come to school with various problems. Also agree that it is not the teacher's job nor do they have the tools to solve these problems.
However, maintaining discipline must be the first order.
Students need to learn that no matter what issues they bring to school, the teachers and the principals are not the enemy. Many times the schools are the only ones who can offer any help to these students. Disciplining unruly students shows these students that you care about them but will not tolerate unacceptable behavior.
Joe, what reasonable solutions do you suggest for fixing these broken students and parents?
Posted on September 7, 2006 11:45 AM