I don't agree. 1. We have had numerous threads here over the years about how we (collective "we") have chosen to homeschool because, among other reasons, we feel that there are many kids in public school who are impacted by a variety of issues: behavioral, mental health, etc. What's to stop one from overpowering the teacher and getting control of the gun? 2. Where would this gun be kept? Would teachers wear a holster? What about body armor? If you're asking a teacher to arm themselves, shouldn't they at least have the protection that an armed police officer wears when carrying a weapon? 3. What if, in the course of a hypothetical firefight with a hypothetical intruder, children are caught in the crossfire? Generally the teacher does not stand right inside the classroom door at all times. Generally the students, desks, tables, bookcases, etc. are between the teacher and the door to the classroom. 4. Teachers are now expected to be an educator, parent, morality coach, social worker and nurse to the children in their classrooms. Adding "armed guard," and charging them with the task of using firepower to keep the children safe is certainly a tall order. 5. Who bears the liability if the gun is taken by a student, the gun discharges erroneous, or a student is caught in the crossfire while a teacher is shooting at an intruder? The teacher who pulled the trigger? The school district that armed the teacher and directed her to use it? 6. IF this is implemented, with whom do we fill the classrooms vacated by teachers who would rather quit their job than carry a loaded weapon? Surely there would be a mass exodus of educators leaving the profession. So who covers the shortages? 7. Who pays for the guns, ammunition, training, upkeep and liability policies? Much of the nation is completely overburdened with the cost of education now. Should we eliminate band and choir to pay for handguns and bullets? What kind of a sad statement on education is that? 8. What if some parents (like me) balk at the idea of their child sharing space with a gun, a whole bunch of video-game-obsessed teenagers and a quickly trained, nervous teacher? Could parents opt out? Or would parents be forced to send their student into an environment where the atmosphere is so anxious that the teacher has to wear a gun? Those are just a few points dashed off as I race to a meeting----- I'm interested to hear some possible solutions or answers to the questions I've posed. astrid

He has a weekend house in southern Litchfield County, CT astrid

Kevin Bacon lives in CT; not very far from Newtown...... hmmmm........ astrid (also in CT, not very far from Newtown....)

The bolded above is EXACTLY the reason why I quit teaching public school (7th grade English) in 2001. I even had a letter to the editor published in the NEA monthly magazine regarding this. DD wants to be a special education teacher and I have to bite my tongue to keep from screaming NOOOOO!!!!! But her heart is so big and she really wants to follow that heart. Hoping things will change, but not betting on it. :-( astrid

I'm assuming she was referring to the wonderful teachers HER PERSONAL children had before she pulled them out to begin homeschooling? I don't think it was a collective "our." I could be wrong, but I don't think she meant it as any kind of blanket statement. astrid

Or use the poster as a wrapping? Maybe find something small for a dc that will fit in the tube, inside the rolled poster (which I assume expands and hugs the interior walls of the tube?) So get something long and slender (a big SlimJim?) and put it in the tube. Attach a cute gift tag on a long ribbon to the inside of the tube (behind poster) and to the end of the Slim Jim. Shove Slim Jim and long ribbon into tube, wrap as normal, and address it to a dc. So dc opens the gift, out falls the slim and the long ribbon attaching it to another gift tag, and telling him to hand off the tube to dh. Who then finds the poster and you all sing and be merry. Just a thought---- astrid

OH NO! Sending positive energy and love your way! Keep us updated? astrid

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. --- Gandhi astrid

The Sharon home invasion was a targeted incident-- drug violence. There is no indication that anyone else was ever at risk. It was not a random killing as the Petit murders were (Cheshire doctor and family.) astrid

removed at the request of quoted poster astrid

Post removed at the request of VinNY. astrid

It's apparently been taken down?

UGH...I'm so sorry!!! yes, he was apparently from Newtown; mom was a teacher at that school. He murdered her at her home this morning. There are just no words. astrid

While I agree with most of your list, I just want to point out that Christians are not the only ones with "values" and "morals." astrid

Local news reporting teachers were stuffing children into cabinets and under sinks to save them. One class is completely unaccounted for. Oh god they are all just babies! I just got a robocall from Molly's school and just about voided my contents. Increased police presence at dismissal, all afterschool activities cancelled, kids being told at 1:45.

What are BDU's?

Oh how awful---- there are just no words. None.

Now at least 27 dead; mostly children. Shooter also dead. State police news conference at 1:00

oh god now at least 27 people are dead...... most are children they think

Me too, FF. News reporting that this is going to prove to be the most deadly school shooting in this country in a long, long time-- rivaling if not surpassing Columbine. So unbelievable.

Our news is reporting that CBS news is reporting that there are many children killed. Scene is described as "atrocious." WOW. So, SO upsetting.

News channel I'm watching has confirmed that one child is dead and shooter is dead. State police news conference in a few minutes.... astrid

Mmmm..... Molly often wants a bowl of oatmeal with raisins after swim practice. She'd LOVE this! Thanks for the idea-- I'll surprise her tomorrow morning! astrid

Here's the station from New Haven, which is closer to Newtown than Hartford: http://www.wtnh.com/ Connecticut is such a tiny state. astrid

I know-- so upsetting! I'm at my office in Hartford, at Capitol Region Education Council where we do lots of professional development training for teachers and administrators. My office is right next to a big room where there's always Friday teacher/admin workshops going on-- and today it's packed. The hallway is just now FILLED with teachers and admins trying to call back to their schools in that region, and they're all poking their heads into my office to ask if I've seen any more info on the local news website. It's awful.... astrid