1School Safety

Jennifer Tomina

School Safety

JRN 610

Regent University

Chidinma Nze, Photo Credit: Chidinma Nze

Jacob Atisha, Photo Credit: Mark Oddish

School Safety

2School Safety

Mass school shootings, and the aiming to protect both teachers and students from these

episodes, is now leading to some districts choosing to arm their teachers with guns. The issue

has now become very political. This idea of providing additional security is being both opposed

and favored. A local parent, Chidinma Nze, and a former student, Jacob Atisha had opposing

viewpoints on the arming of teachers.

Nze is against the arming of teachers, while Atisha is in favor of teachers being armed.

Nze feels that making more weapons available in the classroom is “dangerous,” while Atisha

stated, “If we arm the teachers, we could keep the kids safer.” When asked if anything could go

right with the arming of teachers, Nze replied, “For me, it is hard to see a scenario where it goes

right.” In contrast, Atisha, when asked the same question, replied, “A teacher with a gun would

stop one of these students…an extremely trained teacher who knows what they are doing can

stop assailants or anyone trying to commit a crime because criminals don’t care about the law.

They are going in with a purpose and to do harm.”

Both were asked to speak about what training should be required if teachers are to be

armed. Nze suggested gun and handling safety by the police department and Atisha suggested

rigorous background checks. Atisha also added, “Every month, the teacher needs a guided

training at a gun range to learn all of the logistics of how to carry the gun and be responsible with

it.” Nze and Atisha also both stated that the teachers should go through mental health

assessments.

When questioned about a statement made by Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio

Federation of Teachers and a former teacher, that gun training “places an unfair burden on

teachers,” Nze and Atisha both responded differently. Nze replied, “I do agree with that.

Teachers already have a very stressful job and are already protesting to get a living wage. I think

3School Safety

gun training is a bad thing,” while Atisha had the response, “I don’t see how that can be an unfair

burden. If someone comes in with a gun, the unfair thing is to let the person come in with a gun

and not protect the students. I see nothing wrong with protective safety. The burden is watching

all these kids get killed in front of you.”

The issue of arming teachers is a very debatable topic, providing for thoughtful feelings

and opinions regarding both sides of whether teachers should be armed. Nze’s main point is that

arming teachers is “dangerous,” while Atisha’s main point is that arming teachers makes the

students “safer.” Both of these points show that this controversial topic truly encompasses a

plethora of viewpoints, in these ever-changing times.