Educators Alarmed at White House’s Dangerous Proposal to Arm Teachers

The White House repeated its dangerous proposal to arm teachers in the wake of another mass school shooting. The National Education Association represents 3 million educators who work in América’s public schools and on college campuses.

Let us be crystal clear and reiterate that our students need fewer guns in schools — not more of them — and bringing guns into our schools does absolutely nothing to protect our students and educators from gun violence. We must listen to the students, parents and educators, who have unequivocally stated they do not want more guns in schools and have overwhelmingly rejected the idea of arming educators.

Despite this unmistakable position, the White House continues to ignore these voices by doubling down on its precarious proposal to arm teachers. Make no mistake about it; the alarming rhetoric coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is no more than a distraction from solving the real problem: very dangerous people have very easy access to very dangerous weapons.

Let us be crystal clear and reiterate that our students need fewer guns in schools — not more of them — and bringing guns into our schools does absolutely nothing to protect our students and educators from gun violence.

Our students need more books, art and music programs, nurses and school counselors; they do not need more guns in their classrooms. Teachers should be teaching, not acting as armed security guards. The White House and Congress owe students, teachers and school personnel, who’ve lost their lives at schools and on campuses across the country, to work together to develop common sense solutions that really will save lives.

Instead, President Donald Trump appointed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to lead the Federal Commission on School Safety, who repeated the dangerous plan to arm teachers. In the past, Trump has mocked the idea of commissions to solve the nation’s problems. His own words undermine his seriousness of doing something to protect our students, educators and communities. Our students deserve better.

Lily Eskelsen García is the President of the National Education Association.

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