Letter to the Editor: Arming Teachers

As the discussion regarding arming teachers continues, I find this old educator mulling over so many thoughts. Under such an expectation, who would the teachers of the future be? Would they be like the thoughtful people we remember teaching us? Will they actually be willing to shoot someone? If they shoot, will they hit children or another educator?

Arming the schoolhouses of this nation will further damage the image of the United States forever. It can be assumed that our country has already hurt its worldwide perception through the massive gun deaths that we incur each year. Having teachers engage in gun battles while among the children seems incomprehensible.

So let us step back, reflect and kindly avoid taking actions that would dramatically alter the character of our children’s schools and the people who teach in them. This topic is too important to cavalierly arm educators for a situation that in no way originated in the schoolhouse.

Karl Hertz

Thiensville, Wisconsin