Dear Editor:
In lieu of the ongoing controversy surrounding gun violence in schools, I wanted to forward my opinion on this issue.
The two-year anniversary of the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting is near. It is time for North Americans to readdress the issue of gun violence in schools by constantly changing and adapting the educational curriculum in light of recent events.
Never mind arming teachers and training them how to wield a weapon, this is not an action plan that will produce transformative results. It is not the teachers who need to learn how to deal with gun control, it is the students. True transformation and decline in school gun violence will occur when children know how to effectively approach these social issues throughout their school years. Although this is a slightly morbid topic of discussion for both the teacher and the student, I would rather the children understand the implications of gun usage than go through life not realizing the seriousness of the problem. It is commonplace to reuse the same curriculum each year without addressing current issues in society.
Unfortunately, the only way to combat gun violence in educational institutions is to make it a part of the curriculum, because ignoring the issue is worse than keeping the students informed.
Cali Stinson, Burnaby
