I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Argyle. Good people.
ARGYLE — It’s safe to say Argyle ISD is ready to start the school year with guns blazing. The district is on target to continue its new policy of allowing some teachers to pack heat on campus.
The posted sign on campus shoots straight, when it comes to the relatively new rule. It reads: “Please be aware that the staff at Argyle ISD are armed and may use whatever force is necessary to protect our students.” The signs are posted at all campuses within the district.
“I trust that the administrators of this school district will put my kid’s best interest at heart,” parent Lacey Fenoglio said.
Back in January, the district voted in favor of school marshals. Some Argyle teachers will act as the long arm of the law under the state’s Protection of Texas Children Act.
To start, while I don’t own a gun, I am also not an anti-gun nut but I have to disagree with you about guns in the classroom.
I have taught in grades K-5 and high school, so, I do have classroom experience.
If you introduce a gun to a K-6 school, where are you going to keep it? If you keep it on your person, then kids seeing the gun will make a distraction out of it. Many kids will be more interested in the gun than what is going on in the classroom.
If you hide the gun, then what good is it and what happens if a kid discovers it and is able to get ahold of it.
In high school, especially in the inner city, every teacher runs the risk of being assaulted. even though I am 6’2 and about 290(with some muscle), I have been assaulted 3 times. I know many teachers who have been assaulted and if they and me were carrying, it is quite possible the thug kids may get a hold of the weapon.
And again, if the teacher has the gun in the open and on his or her person, it will be a distraction in the classroom, with many kids being more worried or curious about the gun.
So, while I understand the sentiment of having teachers with guns, I just don’t think it is a good idea.
Thanks Dan
Dan,
I appreciate your perspective and you’re probably right for a lot of schools. However, a lot depends on the environment. If a person is carrying concealed well, nobody should know that they are carrying. Also, I can guarantee you that in Argyle, TX, nobody would take a second look if they were carrying openly. Granted, the reaction would be different in Beloit, but in a town like Argyle, carrying a gun is not abnormal or distracting.
Assuming this became a widespread practice, it’s very hard for me to imagine that it would save more lives than it took.
Well, to date, a lot more kids have been shot in schools with unarmed teachers than in schools with armed teachers.
At first glance I hated this policy but upon further review I (mildly) support Argyles program. Their standards should act as a model (requirements) for all gun owners.
Some of Argyles standards:
-“Only district employees who have obtained and maintain a current license, in accordance with state law, to carry a concealed handgun are eligible to be considered for authorization to possess a firearm on district property”.
-“To become eligible for board authorization employees will have passed a rigorous interview process, a complete psychological evaluation and a comprehensive firearms and emergency response training course. The board will authorize individual employees to possess only after the psychological and training requirements have been met”.
-“Authorized employees will be required to participate in an ongoing requalification process throughout the course of the school year”.
I also see this policy as a means to discipline those unauthorized/untrained employees who think it’s OK to bring a concealed gun into a school because they have the mind set nobody will know or “nobody should know”. This will/does open schools up to serious liability issues and associated costs.