The American Association of School Administrators published my Letter to the Editor in its August issue (AASA, 2008). The issue is related to guns. Considering the 5-4 Supreme Court ruling, which supports the 2nd Amendment as an individual right, the letter carries extra value. The unedited version of my letter can be read immediately below.
I read an article, titled Guns and Butter: Stepping Up to the Plate, written by Sarah Jerome from the December 2007 issue of The School Administrator. Sarah’s views rest on personal beliefs and not on facts.
She wrote, “Perhaps the presence of 223 million firearms in the United States or the fact that one in four households has a handgun elevates this issue to the status of a public health crisis.” It is not a public crisis of any kind. In fact, there is a body of research that suggests more guns equates to less crime.
In education, we must adhere to facts and legitimate research. We cannot make jumps in reasoning from a set of facts to a conclusion when no correlation has been proven. If Sarah wasn’t the AASA president, I would assume she was guilty of faulty reasoning. However, her achievement as president makes me consider that her intent is deceptive.
She wrote, “Our apparent paralysis to end gun violence continues.” What Sarah needs to do is this. She needs to read Kate Stetzner’s June 1999 article titled, How Safe Are Your Schools? Doing so will help her realize how solving the problem can be done. It does not involve ignoring the 2nd Amendment, like she proposes. It does involve a concerted effort between many organizations, agencies, and institutions.
When we deal with truancy, create positive learning environments, support anti-gang initiatives, and maintain curfew laws, we will make strides with safety in schools and communities. I fully support all of Kate’s proposed initiatives, not Sarah’s simple but erred proposal to strip us of our constitutional rights.
Resource
AASA (2008) The School Administrator. Number 7, Volume 65: The Ingredients for Leadership.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
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2 comments:
When we deal with truancy, create positive learning environments, support anti-gang initiatives, and maintain curfew laws, we will make strides with safety in schools and communities.
....Please, the education system is fighting a losing battle. It's not the funding; it's the parents at home. Parents need to take full responsibility of their children then everything else will follow behind.
Until then, politicians, educators, and optimists will continue to fight a losing battle.
Steve, my district has a HUGE problem with funding. Compared to surrounding school systems, we receive thousands less per student per year. Yet, we all compete using the same measuring stick -- the PSAE -- which is a mixture of the ACT along with WorkKeys. We also have a huge language issue, which is another story.
However, I agree that in the face of these challenges, our students would do far better if the community knew better how to work as partners with the schools.
It's not to say there is not an effort to work as partners, but the community struggles with many other issues: low socio-economics, language deficits (Spanish as first language), and gang issues.
More money could help, but more parental involvement would do far more help.
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