And, speaking of armed teachers, I predicted just a week ago on this board that it was just a matter of time before they discovered that teachers can be just as crazy as the people they are supposed to guard the kids against:
Georgia teacher arrested after firing gunshot in school classroom
First, this teacher did nothing to even vaguely suggest he is "just as crazy" as the emerging mass-shooter category. Obviously there is something wrong with him but if a policy to introduce armed teachers is approved it is natural to expect there will be an occasional problem. But the the question of whether the potential benefit of armed teachers would outweigh the occasional problem deserves to be considered and evaluated.
At this time we know nothing about what precipitated this incident. Nor do we know why this teacher was armed. If his being armed was approved, how thoroughly was he evaluated, etc.
If a school decides to arm teachers it should begin by accepting applications from those teachers who are intelligently motivated to accept such a unique responsibility. An exhaustive process of evaluating and testing each individual applicant to determine competence and capability must accompany an
intensive evaluation by two or more specialized psychologists to determine mental and emotional stability. If an applicant is approved, he/she must be subjected to a training regimen specially designed to accommodate the nature of this highly unusual situation.
No form of inducement or compensation should be offered or extended to any individual who is approved to carry a concealed firearm while serving as an ordinary teacher or other school employee. Small, lightweight, but effective firearms should be provided along with a variety of exceptionally concealable holsters and teachers so equipped should carefully avoid students or other faculty members knowing they are armed.
Such a program would take time to organize and implement. It would be time-consuming and costly and should be funded by the federal government but it would significantly reduce if not totally eliminate the mass-murdering of school children -- who would no longer be readily available, indefensible targets for armed crazies.