Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: criveraville on December 16, 2012, 11:58:11 pm
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I am at school right now because I have been fighting a stomach bug this weekend and am leaving lessons for a substitute. I couldn't help, but feel a sense of apprehension as I drove up to the school. I then walked into the building and then my classroom. Wish you all could see my classroom, but it is like thousands of other classrooms in the US. Colorful, filled with books and learning materials. I taught first grade and this is my first year as a kindergarten teacher. My students: 13 girls and 6 boys are bundles of joy, smiles and love. They are babies. Innocent sweet babies eager to learn each and every day.
No one had spoken on this and felt it needed to be said. There is nothing more precious than a child and nothing more horrific when harm purposely injures a child. Let alone many children. Then you have the sweet caretakers that have valiantly fallen protecting their students.
I just don't get it. I really don't. I do not even know how to speak to my own children about this.
Cipriano
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Everyones hearts are heavy, Cipriano. There is no explanation for such a horrific act. I hadn't thought about you this week but I should have. As a kindergarden teacher I can't imagine what you are going through. You and all teachers have my respect and admiration and now my sympathy. We all have heavy hearts!
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Cipriano,
I share your apprehension, my daughter is in kindergarten. Ill be taking her to school in about 8 hours after I get off of work in the morning and I have my reservations about it but I know we can't live in fear. I pray that this does not happen again. Let me ask you this though. Is there any kind of active shooter training set up for the school staff? Are there drills of what to do in case of such an event? I personally believe that school staff should be able to be armed if they so choose. I mean you guys already have to go through background checks and mental evals out the wazoo, so it stands to reason that you would have the mental capacity to carry a concealed fire arm. Im not saying that teachers should take the place of first responders but instead, batten down the hatches and anyone other than law enforcement that comes through your classroom door gets what they have coming. I have looked at my daughters school from a tactical point of view and it scares the HELL out of me. Doors unlocked, no one near the front door to greet anyone that walks in. I mean this really scares me!! Well I will get off of my soap box. Please know that you and all educators as well as your students are in my prayers for protection.
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Well, Im sittin here at work surfin the ole facebook and look what article I run across.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,404721,00.html
To the moderators, if this is an un-authorized link, please disable it.
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Cipriano, you're in my thoughts and prayers.
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Pat you are right. It's heavy for us all.
Jimbob, I totally understand. I have a feeling to keep my three young ones home tomorrow, but I know that only gives in to fear. My fear not there fear. That's an interesting article.
I think it's important for us to vent and share BUT let's all please remember to keep politics out of it.. I would encourage you all to let your children's teachers know how much you appreciate them. I don't even do that enough and we are both teachers..
Jimbob we have lockdown drills and a lot of safety procedures. Locked doors seperate our classrooms from the office and all visitors. Visitors have to check into the office, they get a visitor pass printed and then they may walk down to the classroom the want to visit.
Fred thank you. Much appreciated.
Cipriano
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Sorry if I got a little on the political side. That wasn't my intention, just offering a possible solution to a growing problem.
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Jimbob, no you didn't. That's a valid point and an example of a school that won't allow anyone to come on their campus and cause harm with out meeting some well armed resistance..
Honestly my wife brought that up earlier today when she asked me the "what if...." question since both of us are on the same campus. At that point she asked why school staff isn't protected.
The only thing I can think of is that way back a few hundred years ago the idea of armed folks on a learning institution seemed absolutely absurd.. Why would you need or want that? That's my thinking and my opinion.. But it's not the same environment as when Washington and Adams and Jefferson set up the framework for this great nation..
I was making that statement before it needed to be made ;)
Cipriano
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Now that I think back on it, our school district had its own police force. There were always at least 2 armed officers at the high school and usually 1 at each elementry school and middle school and then they were supplemented by the constables. Although I'm not sure if it was for the reasons we are discussing now or the fact that there was at one time a bit of a gang problem from the middle school on up through the 12th grade, but when their presence was known it felt like a safe atmosphere so I guess it worked.
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I am absolutely without words over this.
David
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I feel sick when I read news stories about this. My guts turn to water. What kind of person could shoot kids? I truly don't understand.
I'm not looking to start a debate on guns, but is arming teachers the answer? Killing someone is easy... it's living with it that's hard.
I'm a multiple gun owner (including a handgun) and hunter. In Canada, we have some stricter gun laws. Owning a gun in Canada is a privilege... not a right. A privilege you need to earn through education. You can own handguns, but target shooting only. No open carry. No hunting with handguns. No assault weapons. Some of the laws we've implemented have failed (like the gun registry), but what's the answer? We've had our share of mentally ill individuals who've gone on killing sprees, but not to the extent you guys have. I think you guys need to get a handle on this soon, or it's going to happen again. I pray you find a solution before more innocent lives are lost.
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When I was in elementry school our "disaster" training for the schools was when we heard the alarm we stood up and in single file we all walked quietly out of the school to the railroad tracks a few blocks away. We weren't threatened by gunmen but the threat of nuclear attack from the Soviet Union. The Cuban missle crisis took place when I was 12 or so but for years we trained for the event. Thank goodness that day never came.
Unfortunately each generation has and will have its threats and one is no more or less sinceless than the other and each is as scarry as the other.
My heart goes out to the folks of Newtown, the kids and their parents, the teachers and teachers all over the country. Walking back into a classroom today would be a hard thing to do but we have to. We have to continue on with life but we should never forget such evil events that took place this past week and do what we can to see it doesn't ever happen again. Calm, thoughtful and positive conversations and actions are in order.
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ADB is on the mark. It will happen again. I can't say I think about this situation everyday, if I did, I doubt I would carry on teaching very long. Does it cross my mind, though? Yup. Most kids are truly great but there will always be some that set off the spider senses. Gotta do your best to treat them all the same without regard. It's tough sometimes.
This incident is so creepy though because you don't know who the perpetrator could be. Safety is just an illusion.
I work about a half mile from the courthouse. A few weeks back there was a nutcase with a fake pistol behind a convenience store. The cops shot him down dead, I think seven shots.
They train everyone for code red drills. Perhaps a lock boxed tazer next to the door? I don't know. There is no good answer, it seems.
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Tragic and unnecessary loss of innocent lives :'(q. As a teacher, we practice lock down drills often, and yet there is never a guarantee of safety. Sounds like Sandy Hook followed protocol, with locked doors and students out of sight.The principal and other teachers did exactly what other teachers would do to protect their students if faced with this situation. I'm more concerned with the profile o f the individuals that carry out such a horrific act on innocent people. Restrictions might reduce the occurrence due to firearms, but this type of person will find another means to carry out their plan such as vehicles, knives, or crude bombs. Why target innocent children? My prayers go out to all the people that lost a loved one in Newtown Friday.
Tracy
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I think many of us held back posting on this because of the shakey holds we have on our own reactions at this point. I know I avoid talking about it much with friends because I'm afraid of just how it may all spill out.
Recently I read an article online by a consultant that "hardens" schools by teaching the opposite of what is currently in style. While he agrees with lockdown, he also teaches classrooms and teachers how to switch from defensive modes to offensive modes. Throw books, desks, pull down the flag and charge the shooter with it like a lance. Do anything, but don't be content with being a crouching sheep target. The sooner the shooter is stopped the fewer victims there will be. Nobody would volunteer their child to be the one to try tackling armed shooters, duh! But how would you feel at the mass funeral knowing that many of the lives could have been saved?
People with differering opinions point to how the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania during 9/11 saved no one on board. They say the "Let's Roll!" philosophy failed. They forget the thousands of people that the hijackers had in their crosshairs. I would like to think I'd eat a belly full of lead for a chance to go down fighting, especially if it means someone else can grab the bad guy from behind and gouge out his eyes, sink teeth into his throat, snap kick his knee, stick a knitting needle in his crotch...and maybe save one innocent life.
God bless that principal that gave everything down to the last and final measure. God take them all into His arms and rest their souls.
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You are all correct and I agree. All of us heavy laden.
Last night Serena and I spoke to Diego about the shooting. This is what he had to say: Mama sometimes I wander if God doesn't come down because he's scared of what he created..
I was out with the bug and my wife was out for a dentist appointment.. When the alarm went off I turned it off and let my children sleep in. They stayed home with us today. I needed to keep them close by for just a little longer..
Cipriano
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stick a knitting needle in his crotch....
OUCH!! I like the way you think though! Go down kicking, biting and screaming!! I had a talk with my daughters teacher this morning and she assured me that all doors stay locked and they do practice the drills, so that settled me a little bit. One thing that did bother me though is that the sherrifs department only has a deputy out there for 2 hours a WEEK. Not a day but a FREAKIN WEEK!! Then I go to the bank and there is a deputy sittin there pickin his nose and talkin on the phone.
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I live 5 miles from sandy hook. This community is devasted. I have personal connections to people who were hurt. There is a lot of screaming across the state and country about what to do to stop this. I have my opinions but right now isn't the time. There will be time for that. The one opinion I will give because of its affect on our lives is hug your family and friends, say I love you like you'll never get to say it again, and perform acts of kindness. It's as simple as holding the door for somebody, and saying thank you when somebody does it for you. Cipriano.......thank you for what you do every day.
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I'm a school teacher....just had a faculty meeting reviewing our school safety plan. It seems surreal. My heart goes out to not only the Newtown shootings, but all the school shootings since Columbine. A school is a place students should always feel safe.
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well said
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Tragic loss, and to think you may be a target when you go to work is outrageous. Ironic though this was not a major issue in 40's, 50's, 60's 70's or even the 80's for the MOST part. I totally blame all of it of the breakdown of BASIC family values where mom or dad was much more part of childrens lives. I watched my sister-in-law let video games raise her kids, and there are so many video games that are praising violence as a way of entertainment. In my opinion the fact we as a society chase the all mighty dallor has destroyed the ability to parent with any authority, and violence has become the parents of some of our kids today.
VMB
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stick a knitting needle in his crotch....
One thing that did bother me though is that the sherrifs department only has a deputy out there for 2 hours a WEEK. Not a day but a FREAKIN WEEK!! Then I go to the bank and there is a deputy sittin there pickin his nose and talkin on the phone.
Well, you gotta prioritize. Somebody's elses money or our kids. And them boogies ain't a-gonna pick themselves!
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My wife and I have been discussing this since the story was aired.While alot of people discuss ways to prevent such tradgities from happening, I have to ask myself why are they happening ? What has changed in society that causes people to do this ? While I whole heartedly believe in gun control ,that is only a part of the equation, as is the belief that violence in modern society is to blame. Lets face it guns were much easier to get in the wild west days and life in general was alot more violent but this sort of thing was unheard of. Some say that these people have mental issues and need help. Well in 1860 for example, they did'nt worry that the dog was mad, when it bit they put it down.
I believe it has more to do with the complete lack of disciple and responsibility fostered in our modern society. Values like duty, honor and responsibility have been replaced with " I am an individual and my opinions and individuality count, I must be accepted for who I am". The give me all the privileges now and dont ask me to earn it mentality it rampant in young people today. Look at the problems the internet has caused with Freedom of expression taken to the extreme. It seems like since the 60s a state of Chaos has been allowed to grow in NA. Freedom is a good thing, but too much of a good thing can be harmful.
These are my thoughts, may be off base but they are what they are.
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Oddly enough, if you graph the sales and use of leaded gasoline in this country and then graph the violent crimes and the sudden epidemic of ADHD and teenage pregnancy, it coincides with about a 20 year gap.
The guy doing the research then tried to find a cultural bias and looked to Great Britian....same graph. He tried France, same graph. Ditto for Germany, Italy, and a bunch of other first world nations.
Low level lead poisoning is linked with ADHD, impulse control, violent behavior, and general poor decision making skills. Here's hoping this runs it's course and gets out of our system now that leaded fuel is a thing of the past.
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It is such a tragedy. I have been praying for everyone affected by this coward. It makes no sense to me. I can't imagine anything more low down and cowardly than some gutter rat that would open fire on those little ones. I don't have any solutions to offer, just that we need to have love for our neighbors -- the kind of love that will cause people to come together and take a fight to these varmints. Looking back through most of these active shooter incidents, you can see that once they encounter someone willing to fight back, they fold up like a shot goose. There is no fight in them! They start sucking on their own gun barrel or are shot down with no more difficulty than you would find in killing a snake.