As a retired teacher, I know the joys and tribulations of my chosen profession, truly a vocation. I had times of frustration with students not interested in learning and disturbing others who were. I know students who cheated on tests, copied others’ homework, used foul language, set off fire alarms, experimented with drugs and stole my purse out of my locked desk.
Human beings, including teachers in their classrooms, can reach their breaking point. Suppose they are armed and have a weapon in their desk. What prevents them from reaching for it and using it in a moment of extreme stress? The result would be one more victim and not the false sense of security.
All desk locks can be picked, as mine was. God forbid a student finds and uses a gun.
Arming teachers, and indirectly students, makes less sense than putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.
Ursula Slavick
Portland
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