American Teachers Now Trading “Withitness” for Gun Training & More Security
American Teachers Now Trading “Withitness” for Gun Training & More Security
Horace C. White
Modern Tokyo Times
Jacob Kounin, an educational theorists, in his book, “Discipline and Group Management in Classrooms” (1977), took a bold approach by suggesting that educators should re-think the roles of educators in the classroom from that of a teacher-centered process of passing on their skill sets and knowledge through the so-called, “banking system,” to that of a “Withitness” approach in which teaching and discipline are integrated.
Kounin’s term “Withitness” refers to the process of educators understanding what’s going on in all parts of the classroom at all times and knowing precisely how to deal with communicating with students (both verbally and non-verbally) before students get off-task, become disruptive, misbehavior, or go to the farthest extreme of engaging in criminal activity. The ultimate goal of “Withitness” is to understand how to “positively” work with a diverse range of students in the classroom so that effective teaching and learning can take place for all.
Since the Sandy Hook School shooting, American educators and Americans as a whole are looking at different scenarios to protect their students and children in the classroom, especially when guns are involved.
One solution being offered to protect students against guns in the classroom is that educators arm themselves. In West Valley City, Utah, for example, a gun lobby group just recently provided six-hours of free training to teachers to show them how to properly handle a firearm.
Another highlight floating around mainstream media is the impassionate speech by National Rifle Association (NRA) chief executive Wayne LaPierre who asserts that “armed guards should be provided at every US school.”
American educators seem to be contemplating the pros and cons of both choices when the sole solution has been and always will be “Withitness.”
American educators appear to be trading “Withitness” for gun training, but do they have the will to confront and talk-down a life-threatening situation in the classroom like a police negotiator and pull the trigger, if necessary, to defend themselves and their students if a gun-related crisis arises?
On the other hand, does an arm guard have the prerequisites and educational attainment necessary to effectively deal with students like a teacher, without resorting to a “shoot first, ask questions later” mentality whereby creating a self-fulfilling prophecy in which students become disrespectful towards public authority and have “zero tolerance” for the rule of law?
In June 1999, following the attacks of the Columbine High School shooting, the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education conducted a Safe School Initiative report by which it was found that “incidents of targeted violence at school rarely are sudden, impulsive acts.” Further to this, “most attacks were stopped by means other than law enforcement intervention.”
According to U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, 1.6 million teachers will retire and 1.6 million teachers will be replaced over the next 10 years with a $30 billion fund established to prevent teacher layoffs under the American Jobs Act. Adding guns per teacher per classroom and/or more law enforcement officers per school to the equation will only increase the U.S. national deficit and bring in an influx of brand new teachers or law enforcement officials into the school setting with a bona fide mindset to shoot or kill students, if a gun is involved, on sight.
While the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is a constitutional right for Americans and should never be infringed, coupled with the fact that some schools do require greater police patrols before and after school to ensure student safety when going to and from home to school, American educators should never trade in “Withitness” for gun training and more security when they have the answer to America’s school problems within themselves.
Time to get “Withit!”
Japanese Yen Exchange Rate
RT @MTT_News: American Teachers Now Trading “Withitness” for Gun Training & More Security http://t.co/M0qjrY87
RT @MTT_News: American Teachers Now Trading “Withitness” for Gun Training & More Security http://t.co/M0qjrY87
RT @MTT_News: American Teachers Now Trading “Withitness” for Gun Training & More Security http://t.co/M0qjrY87
RT @MTT_News: American Teachers Now Trading “Withitness” for Gun Training & More Security http://t.co/M0qjrY87
RT @MTT_News: American Teachers Now Trading “Withitness” for Gun Training & More Security http://t.co/M0qjrY87