Saturday, December 22, 2012
Representatives of three state education agencies issued a rebuttal to Gov. McDonnell's comments about possibly allowing teachers and other school staff to carry weapons.
Virginia educators said they are concerned about the governor’s interest in allowing teachers and staff members to carry guns into schools, noting violence prevention isn’t an issue of more guns, but more funding. Officials with three education associations—the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP), the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals (VAESP) and the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS)—released a statement Friday on the issue. It came shortly after the National Rifle Association (NRA) called for "armed security" around schools but was in response to statements earlier this week by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. The education organizations said they appreciate Gov. McDonnell’s …
Friday, December 21, 2012
The group will review practices, identify vulnerabilities and make recommendations.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has formed a task force that will focus on school and safety in the wake of last week’s mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. “Even with raw emotions still running so high, it is prudent to begin to consider reasonable policy changes,” McDonnell said in a statement Thursday. “In the aftermath of the horrific and senseless shootings, I have asked all local and state leaders that play a role in school or campus safety to review the procedures, plans, policies and resources dedicated to this effort.” The task force will lead by the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Public Safety and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources. Representatives from law enforcement, state agencies, …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Help Patch build a huge virtual card to the Newtown, Conn. community and let them know they are in your heart and on your mind.
When unthinkable tragedy strikes, we grapple for a way to come to terms with the how and the why. We search for ways to make sense of what happened, even when it doesn't make sense. The horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. on Friday stunned a nation as the news broke that not one child, but 20 six- and seven-year-old children and six of their teachers had been shot and killed by a gunman who then took his own life. Most communities can only begin to imagine sorrow washing over this Connecticut town described as close-knit and quiet, a suburban community just 60 miles outside of New York City. It is something we've never imagined, so many lives cut so unbelievably and inexplicably short. Patch is in more than …
Monday, December 17, 2012
Virginia senator said daughters asked him Friday what he was going to do about school shootings tragedy.
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner wants to tighten gun laws, saying "enough is enough" in the wake of the Connecticut school shootings Friday that killed 20 young children and six adults. “I‘ve been a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights,” the Democrat from Alexandria said Monday outside the Virginia Capitol, where he was attending an unrelated meeting, The Washington Post reported Monday. “I’ve got an A rating from the NRA. But the status quo isn’t acceptable. I’ve got three daughters," the Post reported. "They asked me on Friday evening, ‘Dad, what are you gonna do about this?’ There’s got to be a way to put reasonable restrictions, particularly as we look at assault weapons, as we look at these fast clips of ammunition.” The NRA is …
After shootings in Newtown, Conn., FCPS says move is for community reassurance, not a specific threat; Vienna schools focus on making resources available to students.
When children return to school on Monday, families should expect to see an increased police presence at all Fairfax County Public Schools. The move is a reaction to Friday's shootings at an elementary school in Connecticut, where a gunman killed 20 schoolchildren and six teachers, according to police. The gunman also killed his mother at her nearby home. On Sunday, Superintendent Jack Dale wrote in a message posted to the schools' website that "this is not in response to any specific threat but rather a police initiative to enhance safety and security around the schools and to help alleviate the understandably high levels of anxiety. Police patrols will be increased throughout the school day from the opening of schools to dismissal. As …
Don Joy
8:28 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Detelina, there are numerous areas of the country where school teachers and/or other staff are armed. Numerous times, they have stopped bad guy shooters and saved lives of children & others. Provide me with ONE single example of a teacher doing what you claim is such a prohibitive liability. more ›