Thread: Guns in schools

Originally Posted by Gibo

Are you a teacher mate? What are your thoughts on that?

I am a primary school principal. I'll tell you what I do and then you can make an educated guess about my thoughts on the topic.

Every year I take our Y7 - 8 students (11 - 12 year olds) home to the family farm on the shores of the Firth of Thames for a week long camp, usually during week 4 - 5 of term one when the weather is still warm and settled and the fishing is coming on. There, we indulge in a number of activities including clay bird shooting for those big enough to hold a 20g and plinking at paper or spinner targets with a .22LR for those not big enough. All under strict supervision of moi. I've been doing this since about 2005 and I hope that I am not the exception.

Of the 300 - 400 kids who have experienced this, I've only had to take the gun from one student, funnily enough this year. He didn't follow my clear instructions - you are not to move the barrel of the shotgun outside of these two markers! Granted he must have been (over) excited to fondle a gun but he broke the cardinal rule by taking the unloaded and broken-action gun, swinging it around to point at his peers. It was a hard lesson for this boy and as I pointed out to the other students there is no replay button! However, he gets a chance to redeem himself next year - I trust he will.

I love doing this stuff and will continue to do so as long as I can - it builds character as many contributors to this thread have alluded to.