April 24, 2013
English 102.005
Erin Woltkamp Protecting Our Students is Priceless I remember sitting in my second grade class on September 11th 2001, watching the news and not understanding what was going on. Our principal was walking in and out of each classroom making sure all of the students as well as teachers were remaining calm. While people often equate 9-11 with the downward spiral of the world, such disasters have been occurring long before this horrific event. Since 1980 there has been no substantial increase in the amount of overall mass murders and killing sprees in the United States (Plumer); however the number of killings in schools has rapidly increased in the past two years. Although it is not …show more content…
Many people, including the state governor of New Jersey Chris Christie, believe that having firearms on school campuses will be nothing but a disturbance to both students and teachers. "I am not someone who believes that having multiple armed guards in every school is something that will enhance the learning environment,” he explained, "you don't want to make this an armed camp for kids."(Portnoy) This is the most valid argument for the opposition of armed guards in schools because kids/students are the main focus of the issue. One of the most important things regarding education is whether students are able to go to school in environment where they feel safe. In some situations many students may be uneasy in the presence for firearms where they will simply be a distraction. But there are times when extreme situations call for extreme measures, and the protection of students across the nation calls requires extreme measures. Superintendent MaryEllen Elia of the Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida said in a release to the lobby, “Let me tell you that I wish this wasn’t necessary. I wish we didn’t have to consider any of these strategies but the world has changed since I was in school. It changed again on December 14th.”(Byrd) Placing armed guards in schools is an action that people across the board are opposed to, but even Elia believes “We have a role and a responsibility.” that we should not “wait around hoping our students and staff are safe.” (Byrd) By reacting to the killings that have taken place across the nation Florida and many other states are taking steps in preventing more lives being