School Safety Report Gets a Wild Turn
Washington, DC – In a report that’s stirring up more heat than a summer barbecue, President Trump’s newly‑formed Federal Commission on School Safety (founded after the tragic Parkland shooting) is advocating for a few unorthodox moves to keep kids safe. Instead of tightening gun‑purchase age limits, they’re hitting the brakes on Obama‑era discipline reforms and suggesting we actually arm teachers and bring in veterans as campus guards.
Arm the Teachers?
The commission’s 180‑page manifesto contends that most shooters get their guns from close friends or family rather than buying them outright. That means a solid “no raise the age limit” stance. Instead, the panel amps up the idea of dipping teachers into the arsenal—maybe consider a “teach‑and‑hold” class, where educators earn a badge and a badge holder. “Because the response time matters,” they say – especially for rural schools where police can be as far away as a distant supermarket.
Veteran‑Style Security
The report also recommends handing out teaching gigs to military vets and former police officers. “They bring a double advantage: strong leadership and a safe hand,” the commission wrote. Think of it as the school version of a Swiss Army knife.
Obama’s Discipline Rules – Out!
They’re also calling a retroactive review on the 2014 discipline guidelines aimed at reducing suspensions and expulsions for Black and Latino students. The commission argues those measures have weakened school safety “significantly,” calling the roll‑back a solid chance to re‑boot. A stance that has flared up protests from the American Civil Liberties Union, who accuse the administration of turning tragic loss into a political agenda.
CCU on the Whole Thing
“The Trump administration is using tragedies to justify rolling back civil rights…there’s no evidence linking discipline reform to the lamentable shooting incidents,”
Facts That Grabs
- Since the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, 219,000 U.S. students have been involved in a school shooting.
- The commission’s report is packed with recommendations that shake up the balance of securing campuses and protecting civil liberties.
So, there you have it. A report that asks schools to carry out their own “security squad” and jettison longstanding discipline reforms. Will this flip the script in the right direction? Or will it just add another twist to the already convoluted story of school safety?
