This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/20/no-armed-guards-in-schools

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Say no to armed guards in schools Say no to armed guards in schools
(7 months later)
In the wake of the Newtown tragedy, NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre stated, "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." The NRA also ran ads calling President Obama a hypocrite for sending his daughters to a school where armed guards protect the students, but not allowing armed guards to protect other American public schools. In fact, Sidwell Friends School doesn't even employ armed guards.In the wake of the Newtown tragedy, NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre stated, "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." The NRA also ran ads calling President Obama a hypocrite for sending his daughters to a school where armed guards protect the students, but not allowing armed guards to protect other American public schools. In fact, Sidwell Friends School doesn't even employ armed guards.
After seven years of teaching high school in the south suburbs of Chicago, I know that the presence of police does not enhance the educational experience; in fact, it can diminish it. Even though 68% of students in 2011 reported that their school has a police presence - mine is no exception - these officers are generally more concerned with minor infractions than with major tragedies. Almost none of these police officers has encountered or directly prevented a tragic school shooting. In fact, as the Secret Service found in 1999 after the Columbine High School shooting, most school shootings were ended by means other than law enforcement (pdf) intervention.After seven years of teaching high school in the south suburbs of Chicago, I know that the presence of police does not enhance the educational experience; in fact, it can diminish it. Even though 68% of students in 2011 reported that their school has a police presence - mine is no exception - these officers are generally more concerned with minor infractions than with major tragedies. Almost none of these police officers has encountered or directly prevented a tragic school shooting. In fact, as the Secret Service found in 1999 after the Columbine High School shooting, most school shootings were ended by means other than law enforcement (pdf) intervention.
Most of my students and fellow teachers understand the need for one unarmed police liaison to deal with students who commit serious crimes on school grounds, but do not want to see more police officers in schools, and certainly do not want them armed. This will only add to a culture where guns are commonplace, making them part of every day life rather than weapons to be used only when absolutely necessary.Most of my students and fellow teachers understand the need for one unarmed police liaison to deal with students who commit serious crimes on school grounds, but do not want to see more police officers in schools, and certainly do not want them armed. This will only add to a culture where guns are commonplace, making them part of every day life rather than weapons to be used only when absolutely necessary.
We also know that armed police officers do not necessarily make schools safer. A 2006 study of New York City police officers showed that, in situations when they were firing at a person, they hit their marks only 28.3% of the time. Los Angeles police fared only slightly better that year, hitting their marks 40% of the time. Imagine if a stray bullet from a police officer hit an unintended target rather than a violent intruder.We also know that armed police officers do not necessarily make schools safer. A 2006 study of New York City police officers showed that, in situations when they were firing at a person, they hit their marks only 28.3% of the time. Los Angeles police fared only slightly better that year, hitting their marks 40% of the time. Imagine if a stray bullet from a police officer hit an unintended target rather than a violent intruder.
So why is the NRA calling for armed guards in schools if they are so obviously unnecessary? The answer is simple: to direct the debate away from stronger gun control laws and toward security measures in schools. More armed guards also means more guns, something that the NRA has a vested interest in bringing about.So why is the NRA calling for armed guards in schools if they are so obviously unnecessary? The answer is simple: to direct the debate away from stronger gun control laws and toward security measures in schools. More armed guards also means more guns, something that the NRA has a vested interest in bringing about.
On Monday, Congressman Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican, and six other House Republicans took this one step further and introduced a bill that would fund the Cops in Schools program, which would give a total of $30m in grants to schools looking to increase armed police presence.On Monday, Congressman Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican, and six other House Republicans took this one step further and introduced a bill that would fund the Cops in Schools program, which would give a total of $30m in grants to schools looking to increase armed police presence.
Putting more people with guns in schools is not the answer. By increasing police presence in school, we are guaranteeing that more students will be arrested – perhaps unnecessarily. Increasing police in schools will contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. According to the ACLU(pdf):Putting more people with guns in schools is not the answer. By increasing police presence in school, we are guaranteeing that more students will be arrested – perhaps unnecessarily. Increasing police in schools will contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. According to the ACLU(pdf):
"In practice, most school police spend a significant portion of their time responding to minor, nonviolent infractions – children who have drawn on desks or talked back to teachers, for example – rather than behaviors that seriously threaten school safety.""In practice, most school police spend a significant portion of their time responding to minor, nonviolent infractions – children who have drawn on desks or talked back to teachers, for example – rather than behaviors that seriously threaten school safety."
Minor issues such as these that used to be dealt with by school officials are now being dealt with by police officers who will arrest students for such minor misbehavior. Students who bring weapons to school or who commit violent crimes on school grounds should be arrested, of course, but not those who write on desks or talk back to teachers. One arrest dramatically decreases the likelihood that a student will graduate from high school, and can create a host of other issues down the line.Minor issues such as these that used to be dealt with by school officials are now being dealt with by police officers who will arrest students for such minor misbehavior. Students who bring weapons to school or who commit violent crimes on school grounds should be arrested, of course, but not those who write on desks or talk back to teachers. One arrest dramatically decreases the likelihood that a student will graduate from high school, and can create a host of other issues down the line.
As Illinois Senator Richard Durbin, a Democrat, said last month in the first federal hearing on the school-to-prison pipeline,As Illinois Senator Richard Durbin, a Democrat, said last month in the first federal hearing on the school-to-prison pipeline,
"For many young people, our schools are increasingly a gateway to the criminal justice system. This phenomenon is a consequence of a culture of zero tolerance that is widespread in our schools and is depriving many children of their fundamental right to an education.""For many young people, our schools are increasingly a gateway to the criminal justice system. This phenomenon is a consequence of a culture of zero tolerance that is widespread in our schools and is depriving many children of their fundamental right to an education."
More important, schools should not feel like prisons. President Obama's children go to school with armed Secret Service agents because of their celebrity status. Their security detail is a necessity. A security detail for every student in America is not. Rather, appointing armed guards to America's schools will only make students feel confined rather than cared for. Schools should be places where students feel free to partake in their education, not where they feel unable to move for fear of police.More important, schools should not feel like prisons. President Obama's children go to school with armed Secret Service agents because of their celebrity status. Their security detail is a necessity. A security detail for every student in America is not. Rather, appointing armed guards to America's schools will only make students feel confined rather than cared for. Schools should be places where students feel free to partake in their education, not where they feel unable to move for fear of police.
Vice President Joe Biden appeared on a PBS "Fireside Hangout" recently saying, "We are not calling for armed guards in schools…we think that would be a terrible mistake." Instead, he would like to see $40m in federal funding for schools to hire mental health professionals and resource officers. Furthermore, President Obama is expected to call for a ban on assault rifles and restrict high-capacity ammunition magazines. This makes far more sense than having armed officers in schools.Vice President Joe Biden appeared on a PBS "Fireside Hangout" recently saying, "We are not calling for armed guards in schools…we think that would be a terrible mistake." Instead, he would like to see $40m in federal funding for schools to hire mental health professionals and resource officers. Furthermore, President Obama is expected to call for a ban on assault rifles and restrict high-capacity ammunition magazines. This makes far more sense than having armed officers in schools.
I want to protect the safety of the students in my classroom more than anything else, but adding guns to our schools is not the way to do it. A society that polices its schools like it does its prisons can only lead to students with lives more like convicts than children.I want to protect the safety of the students in my classroom more than anything else, but adding guns to our schools is not the way to do it. A society that polices its schools like it does its prisons can only lead to students with lives more like convicts than children.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.