Grades, not guns
Grades, not guns (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Up in arms over armed teachers

Lansdowne, Va.: As a former NYC schools chancellor, in my experience teachers are caregivers first, disciplinarians second. As caregivers, they will be loath to fire a shot at a miscreant, for fear of hitting a student.

The wrong teachers will volunteer; only the uninspiring will raise their hands. The more reasonable will await bonuses for educational enrichment, such as getting an advanced degree or being certified for special education. Training teachers in firearms mastery can be expensive, on the order of $1,200 per teacher. Bonuses would come on top of these fees, diverting funds from truly educational pursuits.


Statistics show that 70% of teachers who are armed shot at least one victim and the majority of victims were involved in fatal interactions. Firearms are potentially deadly weapons; once introduced into the classroom, there is no way to control how they are used. What student would be comforted by a firearm in the classroom? What student would feel comfortable revealing their inner most thoughts, knowing that their teacher was armed? How would this affect the teacher's ability to gain the trust of their students? There is an added danger of accidental firing, as well.

In fact, school shootings are rare events. Less than 2% of homicides occur in schools. The chances of a student being killed or harmed while at school at less than one in a million, finds David Finklehor of the University of New Hampshire Crimes Against Children Research Center.

The latest poll numbers reflect a growing divide. The public does not support this idea. Seventy-seven percent said more effective mental health screening would have prevented the Parkland shooting, and 58% say stricter gun control laws could have prevented the shooting there. A 77% majority says Congress is not doing enough to prevent mass shootings, and 62% say the same of Trump, according a recent poll by Washington Post-ABC News.

The proposal to give bonuses for teachers packing heat will not end well. Harold O. Levy, executive director, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

Scanning for safety

Staten Island: I am a NYC school employee with three children in public schools. I am beside myself in worry because, despite this craziness, my children's schools do not have magnetometers. My oldest attends Tottenville High School, which has about 4,000 students. They do not scan students because it would require too much manpower. Any person could walk in there tomorrow and kill people. I work in a District 75 school and we scan everyday due to our special ed population, but at least I know no one will be getting shot up in my school. Why are we not scanning in every school? Yes, it requires more resources, but how is this not even a consideration? Scanning will be a proactive measure that can save lives. Wake up, people! Jeanmarie Cleary

Constitutionally illiterate

South Ozone Park: To Voicer Marcia Trimmer: I believe although well intended, you are a bit naive. One important question to consider about abolishing all guns: How do you rein in the 350 million firearms that are out there? I'm sure the law-abiding citizens will grudgingly comply but what about the criminals? I'm sure they neither know the Constitution or follow it. Remember, it is no accident that John Adams famously said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Kenneth Kucinskas

Playing the percentages

Brooklyn: Voicer Tedd Merritt asks how 5 million NRA members can have such influence over our politicians. Well, I just read a survey that says that only about 1 million Americans are transgender. How did such a small percentage of the population set the bathroom standards for the rest of us? Fred Schoeneborn

Deadly touch

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.: After seeing the list of the 40-plus individuals in this administration who were either fired or quit or are probably going to jail, I've reached the conclusion that he is the anti-Midas: Everyone and everything Donald Trump touches dies. Bob English

Nut in the White House

Garwood, N.J.: Our President can now be certified "totally insane." A man who fears sharks so bad — he can't even watch "Sharknado"! A man with so little courage that he dodged the draft five times due to alleged "bone spurs" or "bunions" to avoid the Vietnam War. Now that same idiot claims he would have run into the Florida school to confront the shooter, with or without a weapon! If this was a vague attempt at some sort of sick humor, it wouldn't surprise me. If he seriously stands by this claim, he is absent of reality. Same with teachers being armed. A teacher with a hand gun vs. a shooter with an AR-15 is like going to a gun fight carrying a knife. Wake up and lead the country, Mr. President. John Deichmeister

Another furor

Brooklyn: I am 91 years old, and I never dreamed I would see the day when an egotistical, boorish, self-loving, bullying nitwit would become President of this great country. The United States has given birth to the second Adolf Hitler, better known as Donald Trump, and an army of unqualified billionaires to help him run and ruin our country. To those of you who pray, prepare to do so long and hard as we prepare for one hell of a battle with our do-nothing administration. Natalie Meyer

Safe streets

Brooklyn: There is a desperate need for left-turn arrow on Bay Ridge Parkway and Seventh Ave. going toward 73rd St. I have been reaching out to my local representatives for the last six months and still nothing has been done. My daughter and other children going to McKinley Junior High School and St. Ephrems School cross these streets every day. I don't want a family suffering a loss of a child due to a needed street arrow. When the light turns red, cars go through while turning left and not paying attention to children crossing to get to school. I have witnessed near misses of kids almost getting hit by cars. This could be avoided just with a simple arrow. Please don't let this email go on deaf ears. John O'Brien

Tracking funds

Far Rockaway: I have a suggestion for raising money to help the MTA fund the subway and buses. When David Dinkins was mayor, he had a special NYC lottery, to help raise money, but it was only temporary. I suggest that we should have some type of lottery. People play the state lotteries every day and invest and spend money on the big Lotto games and scratch offs to win thousands or millions of dollars. People will play. If the money is used properly for the MTA, it will raise quite a bit of funding. Andrew Jackson

Bigoted View

Bronx: Joy Behar of "The View" said Vice President Mike Pence is mentally ill because he talks to God. Well, Joy, now, that we know that Oprah talks to God, too, is she also mentally ill? Behar's a vile and vicious person; I am ashamed that she's Italian American. Mary Caggiano

Black History Year

Bronx: Voicer Thomas Murawski's letter is a prime example of the racism that makes Black History Month necessary. If the true history of America were actually taught, then it would not be necessary. But we've already had too much whitewashed history that does not let white students know that blacks invented the gas mask, the traffic light, peanut butter and the banjo. Many people (even some blacks) think of a black invention, rock and roll, as white music. So Murawski wants white students to opt out of black history. Then put black history where it belongs, in American history, and teach it every month of the school year. Richard Warren


Path to happiness

Brooklyn: A lot of people mistakenly believe that material possessions will bring happiness, when that is obviously not the case. The richest people in the world aren't the happiest. Sometimes poor people are very happy, and often rich people are very unhappy. What makes a person happy is learning, having a purpose, being religious and family. Sometimes people spend a lot of time trying to make as much money as possible, not realizing that money doesn't equal happiness. Happiness comes from being productive and advancing your knowledge and contributing to society. Shlomo Klein


Totally different breed

Whitestone: Barbra Streisand claims that her "lovely pooches" who have been cloned all have different "personalities"! Sorry, Barbra, but dogs do not have "personalities." I would say they have "dogonalities"! Viva la difference! Leonore Brooks