A Societal Feeling
It isn’t bad enough that our children are no longer safe within their schools, we as a society, (our lawmakers in particular), haven’t the courage or the will to seriously address this National Health Crisis. Yes, I am calling it for what it is; a critical health issue. Why is it a health issue? The answer is simple; our children are dying! If there were to be a National outbreak of a new super virus being spread throughout our schools, I can say with certainty, the local, state and federal authorities would declare an all out war on the bug and do everything humanly possible to stop its spread and cure its affected. Well my friends, it you haven’t come to realize it by now, let me be the one who breaks the news to you. The super virus pervading throughout our country is gun violence. It is affecting our fellow citizens of all ages regardless of their race, color, religion or sexual identity. It is especially troubling that incidents of gun violence in schools are occurring more and more frequently. At this point we must ask ourselves, (myself included) what are we going to do about it? How long are we going to allow this scourge to continue? When will we muster the courage to exclaim enough is enough?
As I have already committed to in my last installment, I will no longer argue the idea of comprehensive gun reform with gun lovers, I further commit to (for the first time since becoming of voting age) apply a single issue litmus test for the 2018 mid-terms. I will only cast my vote for candidates that are not only in “personal favor” of gun reform but, will fight for it once elected. If, as a candidate, one personally feels that a level headed approach to gun control is needed and the majority of folks in their respective districts feel the same way then they can no longer give in to pressure from forces outside of the districts that they represent. The facts are clear; the overwhelming majority of United States Citizens are in favor of universal and comprehensive background checks. It’s a no-brainer that a national system of comprehensively checking the backgrounds of people who want to buy a firearm must be developed and continually upgraded to include; criminal records, domestic abuse arrest, mental fitness and firearm safety training. Each and every local, state and federal agency must have integrated systems that automatically update the national database when changes to someone’s records occur. Age requirements, ammo magazine size restrictions and a ban on assault style weapons and more are all legitimate issues for the gun reform debate however, the time for debate is over. The results are in. The country’s most important stakeholders, (the American People) have spoken. They overwhelmingly agree that action must be taken now. Enough debating!
Now how can I tie my rant on gun control reform to the real purpose of this blog which has been to discuss current trends and best practices in the education of our current and future workforce? The best way is to simply state “we cannot begin to educate if students do not feel safe”. “It is up to all of us, school administrators, educators, and parents working together to create safe, nurturing and caring learning environments for our children as well as our adult learners”.
After the horrible tragedy at Columbine, the nation’s law enforcement community collaborating with local schools districts developed nationwide protocols for actions during an active shooter incident. Since that time, these protocols have been honed and upgraded to include various types of scenarios for schools to practice and drill for, using their own unique campus layouts and environments. As an administrator responsible for developing and implementing such plans, I must tell you that these drills have become part of every school’s landscape and are being carried out with extreme diligence and with military precision. I can also say with confidence that there is no doubt in my mind that these ongoing drills have saved countless lives already. Unfortunately, though nearly nineteen years have passed since that terrible day in Colorado, these protocols are all that’s been done. One reactionary response (albeit a good one) has been our only answer to what we now know to be a more and more common occurrence. It now seems as though our political leaders only want to provide reactionary responses to each incidence as they occur. Is this their way of shifting the conversation from comprehensive gun control measures? Like after Orlando it was magazine size, after Las Vegas it was bump-stocks and now after Parkland it is the FBI’s fault. When will the shifting of blame fall upon our lawmakers whose refusal to address these issues in fear that their main funding supply (the NRA) will dry up? These questions have been asked and answered. It is time that the American Voter become reactionary and send these cowardly politicians home.
Here is the real rub my friends, besides backing off his claims of support for age limits and enhanced background checks, our President has doubled down on his theory that arming our teachers and putting additional guns in our schools will be the ultimate deterrent for violent, assault weapon toting, maniacs from entering our schools and creating havoc. Furthermore, those crazies that are not deterred by that knowledge; will be taken down by a teacher with a gun while attempting to carry out the lockdown procedures they have been practicing for the past fifteen years. If this idea wasn’t so ludicrous, I think my side would be splitting from laughing so hard. Is this not the craziest idea yet to come out of the White House? Whoa are we is right!
To compound sublime matters, the president has appointed our esteemed Secretary of Education, Mrs. Betsy DeVos, who by the way, has no business being Secretary of a department that she knows nothing about, to head a new Commission on School Safety. A subject that she has even less knowledge about, if that is even possible. Just what we need another Blue Ribbon Panel to discuss something about which we already have all the facts. Is this just another ploy to delay what needs to be done? Are the legislators from districts with large populations of gun owners afraid to do the right thing so close to the mid-term elections? Hopefully the veil of procrastination will be pulled back to expose these cowards and they will get their just rewards in November.
Until then we must listen and hear the cries of our young people as they continue to speak out through protests. Most importantly, we must join them and do what their ages prohibit them from doing, vote! If ever there was a time to really support our children that time is now. We must not only give them a chance to learn it has now come down to giving them a chance to live. We must not let another tragedy happen before we act. Do we really want to continue to wring our hands while exclaiming, Woe are We?
