I went into teaching because I am relatively non-confrontational. Now, talk to my brother and he’ll tell you that I started everything when we were children. That’s probably correct. I can’t remember. Doesn’t matter. I’m not a kid anymore.
I’m an almost 46 year-old woman with two biological children and at least a hundred adopted. I believe in compassion and goodness. I believe in random acts of kindness. I believe in saying my mind when I see something or someone beautiful. I know that this might be weird. But if I see a beautiful person, I am going to say something. We live in a world saturated with unkindess, or at least we could. But not on my watch. Not in my corner.
I just finished teaching the Holocaust. I made a point of talking about people who chose compassion and goodness over atrocity and evil. My biggest regret right now is that I don’t know more names to add to my list of people who would rather be kind than silent. That’s okay. I have time to research and learn.
The point of this is….there is no way in hell I will bring a gun to school.
I am not anti 2nd Amendment. Let’s get past this right now. I have mixed feelings about guns and gun ownership. But that is moving into personal, private territory and I won’t give out more personal information on that topic at this point.
I have fired guns. Shooting a Walter PPK or whatever James Bond shoots is pretty amazing. Shooting a small version of a machine gun was pretty amazing too. I am not embarrassed about that sudden rush of shooting at a PAPER target in a safe area where I had nothing to fear.
But there is no way in hell I will bring a gun to school.
My classroom’s number one rule is respect. For everyone and everything. For me any my colleagues and my students and their classmates and their friends and families and enemies.
And for someone, anyone, to suggest that the only way I can possibly guarantee my students’ safety is to strap a sidearm to my side and flash it around? Please. That is one hundred percent stupid.
My husband and I have been talking about raising chickens And not just for their eggs. I am comfortable with everything related to chicken raising, chicken cleaning, and chicken eating. I will cook the chicken. But thinking about killing it ends that possibility right there.
I have found baby copperheads in my gardens. And I killed them because, at the time, I had small children who would show no fear or hesitation around picking up said snakes and playing with them. Don’t give me some wild statement about the snake slithering away. This is my world in which the impossible is likely. I am totally Murphy’s Daughter.
I was sick to my stomach when I finally laid down my lethal hoe or shovel or garden implement.
I cried when I hit a possum with my car. I didn’t have enough time to brake or swerve. I didn’t have the space to avoid this beautiful, living animal that I collapsed into a plasma of broken bones and crushed synapses. I felt terrible. I sobbed the last two miles home.
There is no way in hell I am going to bring a gun to school.
My classroom is a place for students to feel safe. My classroom is a place where I want students to laugh and to know that the only arms I bear are attached to my shoulder bones.
I chose teaching so that I could continue to write. I fell in love with teaching because I found my mission field and bringing a weapon to that world is unspeakable.
I am sick and disgusted by this blathering about teachers being expected to carry weapons into their classrooms. I am not a member of the armed services. I am not a first responder. I know how to do CPR and am probably not even good at that.
I have respect for the armed forces. This rant is NOT against them. Talk to my father, my Big Daddy. They will vouch for me and my respect and love for the military. They have the emotional strength to be able to enter a combat field and follow through on the resulting actions.
Am I speaking in euphemism? Yes. Because I am afraid of sounding contradictory and judgmental.
I just know who I am. Soldier I am not.
Police officer I am not.
I have decided that if a shooter were to come to my school, I would stand in front of my students. Not because of some noble sacrifice. And not because it is EXPECTED of me because I am a teacher (which is the source of another rant that I’m not ready to articulate just yet).
It’s because my students have much longer lives than I do. And I know that my biological children will be okay. Their families, both biological and adopted, will step in and care for them.
You see, I don’t want to cause pain. I want to prevent pain. And, for me, expecting me to carry a gun is the stupidest thing in the world one could expect.
Now my throwing shoes? I got those with me everyday. And they are far more threatening…..
Reblogged this on O at the Edges and commented:
Heather Curran, teacher extraordinaire, tells us why she’s not taking a gun to school.
I could only be considered extraordinary because of my guest speaker. I hope you are up for another day of teaching and reaching into the minds of my students.
Ha! I’m up for it! Just say when.
Reblogged this on AreMyFeetOffTheGround.
Such a perfect commentary. As a former teacher, I am of exactly the same mind.
an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind – Gandhi
it seems irrationally ridiculous to consider that one form of “threat” would cancel out the existent possibilities – I can’t imagine the absurdity of trying to teach with a firearm strapped to one’s body – a warning of what? and I can’t imagine a world where walking into school means walking through metal-detectors and all of that madness – school can be tough enough socially, as it is, never mind the mental challenges etc. – and it should be a “neutral zone” – but such is life in a society and world that is cracking and breaking apart faster than the melting Arctic ice –
more power and encouragement to you, for choosing kindness and respect – all across the board – because as you’ve noted, this isn’t about the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms etc. – it’s not a black and white solution/equation – but it’s about choosing to honour life – all life – as sacred – and stepping up to say so.
Cheers!
This is WOW-Good!! I’m as heart-sick over these shootings as everyone, and angry about poor results to end them…and I’m dumbfounded by the idea of arming the teachers. So I’ll continue my fervent prayers for teachers and students…and all the other innocents being shot down in churches or social venues. I realize now that I could as easily be a victim of this scourge while shopping at my grocery store–and though I’ve never thought of myself as heroic, if standing up as a fat and frumpy target would prevent someone else being hurt, I suspect at 65 I’d do it. I’ve had my life and I know I’m going Home to God. You sound like a phenomenal teacher–may God bless and protect you and those you love.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Like you, I know my future Home. The Lord has indeed blessed me, especially through kind readers such as yourself. Please keep all in prayer. Together, the love of Christ will prevail.
I won’t forget to pray, dear Sister ❤
Reblogged this on Pitching Pennies Poetry and commented:
I can only hope that the author of this awesome statement of values will send it to Trump, to every senator and congress person. I hope everyone will share this on their blog. It is time we stop to hear the voice of reality and yes, of wisdom.
Reblogged this on The Peaceful Pub and commented:
I can only hope that the author of this awesome statement of values will send it to Trump, to every senator and congress person. I hope everyone will share this on their blog. It is time we stop to hear the voice of reality and yes, of wisdom.
Violence begets violence. May your wisdom be heard….. ❤ Thank you Sarah for re-blogging.