USA Today Article 2/19/13 - Teachers Should Confront Intruder

I had a long conversation with a relative of mine the other day. She's an elementary school teacher in a rough district in another state. We started talking about what she could do, within the rules of her district, to protect her children.

First, she decided to place some useful things in her classroom. These are all common objects that absolutely no one would think twice about, not even the kids.

1) There's a baseball bat leaning in the corner near the door.
2) Heavy three-hole punch located conveniently on the corner of her desk.
3) Grownup scissors inside her desk drawer.

Her classroom door has a window in it. She has a stack of black construction paper and some tape right next to the door. If they go into lockdown, she will cover that window after she locks the door.

The door swings outward, so no use getting a rubber door stop. However, she has a paracord bracelet on a high shelf, along with a plan for lashing the doorknob to her heavy desk in case the intruder has a master key to the school.

One wall of the classroom has knee-to-ceiling windows. She has visualized breaking one of those windows with a chair, and has a heavy rug from the classroom that she could throw over the opening to keep anyone from getting cut as they climb out, if they need to flee for any reason.

The kids all know that if the lockdown alarm sounds, the "class monitor" (special kid for the day) needs to pull the big curtains closed while everyone else gets out of sight in the safest corner of the room.

This isn't the same thing as if she had a gun and was prepared to use it, but it's a whole lot better than, "If the alarm sounds, just hide."

pax
 
Pax,

Thanks for sharing that. I'm going to print that and give it to my Mother and ask her what she thinks.

Obviously, not all of that will apply to her classroom, for instance her door swings inward and she only has one window, but the rest of your advice is superb!
 
teachers with guns

Hopefully, I can add something to this discussion. I am a retired High School teacher with 32 years of teaching. For many years, I kept a handgun and hunting rifle in my truck to go hunting after school. The shop teacher had students bring in their guns to school to do minor repairs(he was a gunsmith) In metal shop, he taught the students how to make knives and black powder cannons. We had a rifle team that practiced after school.(on SCHOOL PROPERTY) For Health class, the health teacher brought in several types of handguns to teach handgun safety. We never had a problem, no shootings, or mass murders of any kind! Since the "no gun zone for schools" laws have been passed, there have been hundreds of school shootings and it seems only to be getting worse. In our school, since the first mass killings at Colinbine, we have had a SRO( School Resource Officer) and that has worked out fine. I am against requiring or expecting teachers to provide security for students, but by making it illegal for teachers with concealed carry permits or hunting licenses to even possess firearms locked up in their vehicles or handy in case of need, the politicians have made us all easy marks for mass killings. Even the smallest penknife, pictures of guns or discussions of guns has become illegal and bad. People are killed every day by cars and we have drivers education and it isn't illegal for students of age with licenses to drive to school! We are allowed to talk about disease and how to keep healthy but not talk about gun safety or even show the do's and don'ts of proper firearms safety. We are not allowed to protect ourself anymore and most schools are soft targets of high interest by mentally ill individuals. Ask the President, are his kids protected by just anti-gun laws or by armed guards? And yes, our school kids are at risk today because sick people know if they get in to a school, they will be able to kill at will. What are we as teachers going to do? Throw pencils at the killers?
 
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One of our local school districts is adopting the A.L.I.C.E. training model. I've read as much as I can and watched the videos. It makes a helluva lot more sense than anything else out there. The only thing that would make more sense would be to let me actually carry a weapon that I might be able use to defend my students.
 
WOW they say teachers make to much money and have the summer off.... They don't work hard enough... Now they want them to be targets for the nut with a bunch of guns and ammo... How could you ask anyone to do something like that..... What is wrong with these people!!!!

I say give a few teachers in every school the training and a concealed weapon and make them qualify 2 times a year like the cops do and there is your security when they are needed to protect our kids in school....
 
SPEMack618,

With a door that swings inward, a $2 rubber door stop can be a lifesaver. I keep one in my suitcase for hotel doors too.

pax
 
Pax another good thing she can keep in her class which shouldn't bring attention is wasp spray by her desk. It has about a 25 foot spray and its a straight stream aim for the eyes and face should blind the person for a good time for her and the kids to get out..

I have a lot of friends and family as teachers (including my wife) So we are talking about these kinds of things all the time trying to figure out new weapons that can be used to protect them and there students.
 
We talked about that -- but with elementary kids, she didn't think it was a good idea to have a poison within reach.

pax
 
One wall of the classroom has knee-to-ceiling windows. She has visualized breaking one of those windows with a chair, and has a heavy rug from the classroom that she could throw over the opening to keep anyone from getting cut as they climb out, if they need to flee for any reason.
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Windows that big might be tempered glass. Have her get a spring-loaded center punch to break it. They are about $5 and about the size of pencil. (useful for starting wood screws too)

What kind of door knob? Maybe some way slip a 2x6 with a slot in it over/through the door handle and wedge it against the door frame? (would be a lot easier if the door had steel hooks attached to to accept a 2x4) This could be a lot faster and stronger than using para-cord. OTOH, it could be used by a crazy student to barricade himself in the room.
 
It's good news.

Some are right, they are realizing they might have to fight to keep their life.

They are realizing someone else might not be able to do it for them, or stop it before it happens.

It puts the burden where it belongs, where they have deluded themselves into thinking it shouldn't have to be ... but it is.

Now once they face the fact that they might have to fight an armed assailant with a pair of scissors, maybe the sheep will grow claws and demand something more effective and face the realization that self defense means defending yourself.

It's high time folks pulled their heads out of the sand and woke up to smell the coffee.
 
Maybe those are steps in the right direction. I certainly agree with the well thought out processes that Pax mentioned.

I do worry that such well thought out plans will be used as excuses for why we don't need carry. I've heard that thought.

But I agree you should plan within your given parameters.
 
pax said:
With a door that swings inward, a $2 rubber door stop can be a lifesaver. I keep one in my suitcase for hotel doors too.
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When I saw this, all I could think was "D'oh! Why didn't I think of that?"

From time to time, my wife takes on work as an adjunct instructor at a nearby university. I'll be investing $2 before she returns to that job.

Thank you, pax.
 
When seconds count ...! Actually, after allowing teachers to be armed, this is not a bad idea. My fear is that this will be sold as a total solution instead of another tool.

Public Schools Installing ‘Panic Buttons’
February 21, 2013 11:39 AM

Adam Lanza, Marietta Public Schools, panic buttons, sandy hook elementary school
MARIETTA, Ga. (CBS Atlanta) — Marietta Public Schools have added “panic buttons” to its schools in response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

WGCL-TV reports that these “panic buttons” will immediately place a call to 911 when pushed by school officials.
Click to expand...

http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2013/02/21/public-schools-installing-panic-buttons/
 
Yes, I summarized because I think spending time to look for a weapon is pretty close to a no win scenario.
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I am sorry you feel that way. If you think you will be defeated because you don't have a gun, then I have to believe you. With such a mindset, that makes you a predetermined victim.

Being without a gun may certainly be a disadvantage, but there is no reason to believe it must be a no-win scenario. Too many people have been victorious in no-win scenarios.
 
I will repeat my advice on one of the best nonlethal and readily available weapons which can be effective in defeating an assailant.

A standard ABC Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher.

They are located every where and easily accessible.

The chemical is caustic.

When it gets in the eyes it cause immediate pain and tearing. if not washed out it can cause permanent damage to the eyes up to blindness.

When inhaled it causes asthma like symptoms including uncontrolled coughing.

When ingested it causes burning to the throat, gauging and can cause vomiting

NOTE: Except for the vomiting and permanent eye damage, I have experienced the effects personally.

Anyone of these events will severely limit the attackers ability to continue the attack.

To employ the Fire Extinguisher.

Assume a low defensive position ( preferably behind cover) about 15' from the entry point. This allows the agent to form a cloud but still has a solid stream.

Aim at the by face. Sweep rapidly from side to side. This disperses the agent and creates a cloud which is easily inhaled. The stream will coat the face and eyes.

The fire extinguisher is a good second choice when my 1911 is not available.
 
Fire Extinguishers and IPads to be Regulated

Last week, in my city's newspaper (Louisville Courier Journall), there was an article about teachers being trained to deal with attackers. One of the suggestions was that they throw iPads.

I think the fire extinquisher idea is better.

But, alas, as soon as the authorities realize that these items can be used as weapons, they will quickly become illegal, or so tightly regulated that they will be of marginal effectiveness.

Students will only be allowed to use iPads that weigh 10 oz or less, and any fire extinguisher that is shaped like a bomb will be prohibited.
 
Another use of the Fire Extinguisher which I failed to mention, though I do not prefer it, is as smoke screen.

Smoke has, one study by the military reduces the effectiveness of aimed by as much a 90%. The reduction varies by the amount of the smoke and the ability of the shooter.
 
Pax said:
SPEMack618,

With a door that swings inward, a $2 rubber door stop can be a lifesaver. I keep one in my suitcase for hotel doors too.

pax
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Pax,

Mentioned this to my Mom friday before I left for drill, she then produced one from the junk box that all teachers seem to have. Good deal.

Thanks again.
 
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