Teaching While Afraid

This is where things are today: The notion that teachers should be armed in order to protect students from shooters is a serious proposal now under debate. During Wednesday’s White House listening session with students, teachers, and parents affected by school shootings, President Trump suggested that allowing teachers with military training or other training experience to bring guns to school could help mitigate the effects of future attacks. School districts across the country, including in Georgia and Florida, are considering proposals to arm teachers, and legislation is being considered in several states. The idea was met with backlash from many educators, parents, and administrators. “I don't think teachers should be armed,” said Scott Israel, the sheriff in Broward County where the Florida shooting took place, at a CNN town hall. "I think teachers should teach.” How are teachers themselves coping with all of this?

Educators across the country field incidents, but since 2014 there have been school shootings on average per month, as well as countless other incidents of school violence of all sorts. For teachers, school violence imposes tough demands—not only that they may have to put their lives on the line should a shooting happen in their school, but the more quotidian reality of providing emotional support for children who are terrified of the prospect of such a thing occurring.