Tamaqua School Board Moving Forward with Arming Staff

[esh21167]

I didn't see this posted yet. https://wnep.com/2018/10/17/there-ar...maqua-schools/

TAMAQUA, Pa. — Arming teachers and staff has been in the works for years in the Tamaqua School District, but after Tuesday’s board meeting, school administrators are another step closer to keeping students safe.

Parents Newswatch 16 spoke with are mostly on board with this policy of giving teachers guns. They believe this is the best way to avoid school shootings in that part of Schuylkill County.

For kids boarding the school bus, it was time for an afternoon of learning in the Tamaqua Area School District.

For parents, the discussion of giving some teachers and other staff members guns was at the forefront in this part of Schuylkill County.

As a parent, Gabrielle Dannenfelser tells Newswatch 16 she is on board with the new measure of school safety.

“I was in school since Columbine happened. It has been a very big concern. The clear backpacks were a good step and I feel like anything else that will keep my kid stay safe I am OK with,” Dannenfelser said.

“If the teachers are trained, they should be allowed to carry guns. There are too many shootings in schools,” Jil McMahon said.

Tamaqua School Board members gave their first OK to the new policy back in September and renewed their support Tuesday night.

Trained teachers, custodians, and other staff would be allowed to carry guns on school property.

School officials say three to four members in every building would be anonymously armed.

“I believe the teachers should be able to carry as long as they are qualified and don’t let some nut take their guns from them,” Mike Whah said.

Those we spoke with do agree with arming faculty and staff to protect their children, but they do hope that school officials put a focus into counseling.

“If there is money that would not take away from their music program or things like that then I would agree with it,” Dannenfelser said.

School officials tell Newswatch 16 that teachers and other staff members are not carrying guns on the property.

The district is working on finding staff members who are interested and implementing a training program.

[cdi]

They are going in the right direction-almost.
School teachers are one of those things you probably shouldn't bring to a gunfight.

I am skeptical about a career change from teacher to gunfighter.
Personally, I would much prefer dedicated armed personell.

[Royinmontco]

I am skeptical about a career change from teacher to gunfighter.

So should all of us folks who are NOT "trained gunfighters" leave our carry pieces at home?

[cdi]

Don't be silly.
Teachers have the same rights as anyone else.

That said, they should not be expected to counter an armed threat with the same training and competence of trained persons dedicated to that function.

[comsubin61]

Your assumption that a teacher cannot be trained to be an effective tool to defend the kids is silly . Take police officers. The majority of them do one week of firearms training during the academy and once a year qualification. Wow that’s a professional fighter.
With a proper training program and follow up recurring training even a “ Teacher” can be trained to be quite effective in a shooting situation. After all the shooters are mostly kids that are not gunfighters. The reason they are mostly successful in these situations is because they are not challenged.

[cdi]

Your assumption that a teacher cannot be trained to be an effective tool to defend the kids is silly . Take police officers. The majority of them do one week of firearms training during the academy and once a year qualification. Wow that’s a professional fighter.
With a proper training program and follow up recurring training even a “ Teacher” can be trained to be quite effective in a shooting situation. After all the shooters are mostly kids that are not gunfighters. The reason they are mostly successful in these situations is because they are not challenged.

I didn't say anything of the kind- I said they should not be expected to counter an armed threat the way a person trained for that specific function would.
Police officers are stretched pretty thin in the firearms competency arena. Their job function is huge and firearms play a pretty small part in it.
I would prefer dedicated gunfighter types in that roll. I have no problem with teachers carrying their personal defense weapons in school.

[Roger Kipwell]

School teachers are one of those things you probably shouldn't bring to a gunfight.

I know more than a few teachers who are Marine or Army veterans.

Personally, I would much prefer dedicated armed personell.

Might as well station firefighters there as well. Heck, you have greater likelyhood of needing a firefighter at a school than you do a gunfighter.

[alpacaheat]

I know more than a few teachers who are Marine or Army veterans.



Might as well station firefighters there as well. Heck, you have greater likelyhood of needing a firefighter at a school than you do a gunfighter.

NOW you're thinking. Every school gets an armed firefighter. Ready for everything.

[cdi]

I was the lead firearm/defensive tactics instructor on my agency for 18 years. There were a few guys who were just a soup sammich on the range. Most were capable but nothing special. A very few were excellent.
Most cops are not gun guys- their weapons are just something to blow the nose nuggets and butt fuzz off a couple times a year to qualify. There are others however that fit the bill well.

Sometimes a p.d. will hide their duds by making them the dare officer, school resource officer, detective, Etc. After the disgraceful performance of the dud in Florida, those days may be ending. There are plenty of retired cops and military that would qualify for the position, not typical policemen or vets but those that have a little more advanced tactical training.

It's not that hard to find guys that are well trained with a little gas left in the tank to do the job. It gets a little more complicated finding ones that can comport themselves in a school setting but it's far from impossible.
No doubt, the odds of needing someone for the ultimate bad day is very, very small. None the less, schools in Pa. are warming up to the idea. The school police officers are used for a myarid of functions around the school when they're not busy putting down mass shooting events.

[Roger Kipwell]

The school police officers are used for a myriad of functions around the school when they're not busy putting down mass shooting events.

Handing out condoms
Searching lockers for contraband
Telling stories about how they helped take down the Barrow gang.
Frisking cheerleaders.
Maintaining a watch in the girl's locker room