In the light of the recent school shootings, such as the one at Virginia Tech, much debate has begun as to whether or not teachers in these schools should be armed with weapons to deter, and protect themselves and the children, from a possible assault. I’m a soon-to-be teacher myself, and am totally aware of the current security issues plaguing the education system. And while I’m not sure arming teachers is the right choice, I hate to say it, but it might be the best choice.

First of all, I’m sure we can all agree there is a security problem in our nation’s schools. These ‘gun-free zones’ have, since Columbine, been an easy target for psychotic and disgruntled individuals. Now in the aftermath of Virginia Tech, anti-gun activists are using the disaster as a staging ground for further anti-gun legislation? But is that the answer? All’s gun laws will do is to prevent law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves. Criminals will still be able to get their hands on them. In addition, anti-gun legislation will also give these criminals the edge because they will know that deterrence is no longer a barrier. If good citizens don’t have guns, criminals won’t have to think twice before coming into your home, or your children’s schools. All it will do is open the doors to these wackos. And also, let’s not forget that there is a constitutional amendment protecting our right to bear arms. So what else is there to do?

Some people have stated that, at least in the universities, students of age and that having been properly certified should be allowed to bring guns into the classroom. Now I think this may be taking it too far. True, you do have a right to bear arms and protect yourselves, but such a regulation might cause more problems than it can solve. As many of you know, college can be a rather stressful phase in an individual’s life. Do we really want a student who is under all that pressure to have a weapon, and legally be allowed to bring it in the classroom? So, what else?

Others have suggested that schools and universities should have security programs similar to that of our nation’s airports. Not only would such a program burden the already strapped education system, but what does such a blatant and obvious response to the crisis show are students. That we don’t trust them? I’m sorry, but I think trust is very important, but precautions are as well. And there is a difference between necessary precautions and Orwellian-type security. Teachers should be armed.

Now there is a downside. Opponents of such an idea could rightly say that such a program would bring up all sorts of issues, especially psychological ones both on the student’s, teacher’s, and parent’s part. How would it be for a student to know that his teacher is in possession of a weapon? How would it be for that student’s parent? And not all teachers are good. There is the possibility for potential misuse of the weapon. For example, a school in Massachussetts was using an electrical shock device, which initially was for protection, but ended up as a disciplinary tool. Check out this article. Also, opponents could say that teachers get into stressful situations just as much as their students. All of these arguments are sound, but we must remember that teachers are held to higher standard than many other professions, on mental and ethical lines. Only teachers who pass some sort of evaluation should be granted this right. Also, there should be regular and routine evaluations of these teachers for them to maintain this privilege.

Like I said earlier, I don’t like this idea, but we don’t have to like it. It’s here. This is where the world is now, and if we don’t act, similar tragedies may be on the horizon. I know as well as the next person that teachers are not police officers and we shouldn’t want them to be. They are educators. But unfortunately, the day has come when teachers are also our first line of defense in the battlefield of our nation’s schools.