Should Teachers Be Armed With Mace?

Here's a letter to Superintendent McGill from a Greenacres Dad Mike Greenberg who has three children in the Scarsdale schools:  Dear Dr. McGill: I am a parent of three Scarsdale students, one currently in 10th grade, one in 7th grade and the youngest, a kindergartner at Greenacres.

Although I can hardly believe that I'm saying this, incidents like today's have become too common in our nation to take for granted. Until we adopt sensible gun control laws, school administrations must do more than make certain that school doors are locked to protect students against this sort of violence. Of course, I'm sure you realize how simple it would be for someone with an assault rifle and an unbalanced determination to enter a school building if they wanted to, even a locked one.

The time clearly has come for teachers and staff in each school to have mace/pepper spray on hand that can be sprayed from 20 ft or more. If you soak someone's shirt with that, they won't be able to see or breathe and it will disable most intruders long enough to disarm them or permit escape with children in tow. That's a reasonable, non-lethal precaution to take.

It is both sad and insane that we have to consider that sort of thing, but we must. And we must do so without delay. Mace can be stored discreetly, in locked cabinets around the school, beyond the reach of children and other unauthorized users.

Here's a link to a product on Amazon that might be effective. This particular product can be fired accurately from 20 ft, according to the description.  Obviously, you should consult our police department to see if they recommend a different product, or a Taser, which also can be fired from a distance and will similarly disable a violent intruder.

The contingency plans that we have currently for this sort of event are inadequate. Simply locking doors or guiding children to different locations does not prevent these tragedies. Have such measures worked in any school in America where this has occurred? Clearly, a more robust, non-lethal response is called for. The police can arrive, with their own assault gear to counter such a threat, only so quickly. Until they are on scene, teachers and administrators must be empowered to protect the children in their schools. Anything less would be shortsighted and overly optimistic.

Thank you for reading this during what must be an incredibly trying and difficult time for all who run our excellent schools. And thank you for all you and the District have done and continue to do for our children and their families.

Best regards.

Mike Greenberg