Class Warfare
There were a couple of . . . oh, let's call them insane suggestions for how to protect students in the schools after the outbreak of killings in schools earlier this year. Nevada senator Bob Beers wants to arm teachers to act as a 'deterrent' for violence. Bill Crozier, who was running for school superintendent at the time, claimed that school books could be used to protect students, especially if you add Kevlar to the covers.
I didn't write about these things when I first read about them because they were nuts. On Monday night, though, Jon Stewart and the Daily Show featured both ideas in a hilarious bit featuring Jason Jones as the "Senor Corespondent."
Sally:
They should just arm all the students!!
11 January 2007, 12:01 amBob Beers:
Funny video! I hadn't seen it before. On a more serious note, I would offer your readers a bit more realistic treatment of the topic. I'd rather not see the 160 murdered children who died in the last major school terrorism incident repeated in America.
The article on my website might also prove of interest.
11 January 2007, 3:34 amLaura:
As a teacher in a U.S. school, I can tell you that there are ways to increase school security that do not need to include putting guns in the schools.
The 2004 Beslan school seizure was a tragedy, I won't deny that. However, to site that tragedy and point to the finding of public record school plans on a computer in Iraq is alarmist at best. At worst it is intentional fear mongering. There are too many questions about both incidents to make the claim that these events prove that al Qaeda is actively planning to attack a school on American soil.
BTW, you website incorrectly states that the Beslan attack happened in 2003. It happened in September 2004. Many of the deaths can also be attributed to the actions of the Russian Special Forces and the armed civilians.
jan:
I'm still flashing to arming all the teachers and projecting how that would play out. Don't you fantasize about it just a little?
11 January 2007, 8:26 pmLaura:
There have been days…
Sally:
Laura, I was kidding about arming students…the teachers would have to armed then the administrators and then all the other workers. Potential for a bloodbath!!
12 January 2007, 11:33 pmLaura:
I know you were kidding Sally. If Beers gets his way we might as well just arm everyone and go back to the days of the Hollywood Old West.