Charlotte, NC

Notice the heading: Guns AND (not IN) Our Schools. There’s a reason:
Over the past few weeks, the Charlotte Observer has reported a few school-agers who’ve been caught with firearms at school. Of course, these students make excuses and get teary-eyed when they’re caught … but … what if they weren’t? What would’ve happened?
Look … no one brings a firearm on school property for show-and-tell, to trade or for “no reason”. Somebody … another student, teacher, principal … somebody’s targeted by the armed kid (if not an entire group or class!)
And there’s no “excuse”, no “reason” that should let these students get off with a slap-on-the-wrist! If something like that had happened in our day (and, Sabres, Class of ‘69, know this!), it was immediate expulsion and report to the police!
Right?
But, just for the heck of it, let’s look at these “excuses”:

• POVERTY No doubt, it’s a depressant — but that could be discounted if the student has someone to show them that, by hard work and discipline, he can work his way out of it! Poverty’s not permanent unless we want it to be …
• SOMEONE MADE ME MAD Hey … who’s teaching these kids how to control their rage? Who’s counseling them? It doesn’t have to be the CMCMH, or the school itself! It can be … it can be (dare it say it?) loving, sensible parents!
• IT’S THE SYSTEM, MAN! Hmph … that’s a cop-out! But one way to reach the kids is to let them know that, if they finish their education … if they make the best grades they can …if they act honorably … and if they show they can get along with their classmates (good and bad), then they can enter adult society in just a few years and change the system! A gun won’t do it!
• IT’S MY FOLKS … If it’s their parents, then why take it out on their schools? Why not try to talk … communicate with their folks? If they need help, check with friends, churches or local agencies to help get their thoughts across … peacefully!
• And, worst of all, I DON’T LIKE THEM (n-word) AROUND ME! Unfortunately (and as we’ve seen in Louisiana recently), some kids are thinking that. Look … if you’re prejudiced, think about this: Some of the greatest modern heroes in this country — remembered by simple names like Iraq, Katrina or initials like WTC (think 9/11!) — are African-Americans! Do you buy a car just on the basis of its outer appearance — or do you check under the hood and how it operates? Then why do you judge people by their skin color, size or looks?

  One more thing: If any of you have had an injury or operation that required a blood transfusion, then (according to the American Red Cross) there’s a tremendous chance that you’ve received the blood donated by an African-American! And it’s running through your veins as you read this! So how can you be prejudiced against something that’s already part of you? WE ARE ALL EQUALS!

So we need to cut the excuses, get with these kids and teach … listen … LOVE them.

I said “Guns AND Our Schools”. School Board, isn’t it time we added some extra and mandatory classes to reach out to the kids who are most likely to bring these weapons to class? It could put a serious dent in their plans!

Parents, start communicating with your kids! I mean, do it in patience! Teach them by example, first of all … and don’t hold back on the love! If your son or daughter needs help, be sure he/she gets it. And, if you have weapons in the house, be sure they’re LOCKED UP AT ALL TIMES and where no one but you can get to them!

Together, we can keep the Queen City safe … and our schools can get back to teaching without looking over collective backs and worrying.

One final note here: Please note that not one kid does it because he heard it in a rap song! Both hip-hop and rap have been unjustly tied to recent school violence. For more on that issue, click here and follow it up here.

Teachers, for an effective learning tool to help combat the guns-in-schools issue, go here.