Arm teachers? SD308 superintendent issues statement

SD308 Superintendent Dr. John Sparlin issued a statement Friday in response to nationwide calls to arm teachers in the wake of the Feb. 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Florida that left 17 students and staff members dead.

"As a nation, we are deeply saddened and alarmed by the increase in violence against schools. This is a time for meaningful conversation and exploration of options and ideas that can enhance the safety of students while they are at school," Sparlin said. "As a district, we will continue to coordinate our safety measures and training with local law enforcement, including our school resource officers. Over the past five years, we have made many changes in the technology we use, and the protocols that are followed, and we will continue to follow best practices and stay current moving forward.

"At this time, it is difficult to say what the future of security in schools may look like, but likely it will include a mix of greater social-emotional support and intervention for students, perhaps additional police or security on campuses, and ongoing training on the techniques proven to provide students and staff with the greatest chance of survival when faced by danger."

Calls to arm teachers have come from across the country over the past several days.

During a roundtable discussion with survivors of mass school shootings and family members of the deceased on Wednesday, Feb. 21, President Donald Trump called for arming 20 percent of the nation's teachers, saying, "If you had a teacher who was adept with the firearm, they could end the attack very quickly."

Trump continued the discussion with a series of tweets the next day, and on Thursday, Feb. 22, suggested that the teachers who were willing to undergo the necessary training to earn a concealed carry license and carry a firearm while teaching could be paid a bonus.

Many have come out against this idea, including the president of the National Education Association, Lily Eskelsen García.

In a post on the NEA's website, Garcia said, "Bringing more guns into our schools does nothing to protect our students and educators from gun violence. Our students need more books, art and music programs, nurses and school counselors; they do not need more guns in their classrooms. Parents and educators overwhelmingly reject the idea of arming school staff."

Garcia added, "Educators need to be focused on teaching our students. We need solutions that will keep guns out of the hands of those who want to use them to massacre innocent children and educators. Arming teachers does nothing to prevent that. We owe it to the students and school personnel, who’ve lost their lives at schools and on campuses across the country, to work together so that we can thoughtfully and carefully develop common sense solutions that really will save lives.”

The SD308 Board of Education will meet in the Community Room of Oswego East High School at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26.