BUTLER COUNTY -- Local teachers are against Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones' plan of turning retired police or current police officers into trained, armed substitute teachers.
Sheriff Jones announced this initiative at a press conference today. It was an idea that originated from retired Mason Police Officer Scott Miller, who was injured in the line of duty and thought the plan would be great especially in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting.
"I thought it was a better option to have an experience battle-tested police officer in the schools in the event of a hostile shooter to prevent any kind of tragedy," said Miller.
Charles Russo, Panzer Chair of Education, of the University of Dayton has years of experience dealing with kids.
"To become a good teacher it takes a while, it took me years to learn to teach well," Said Russo.
Russo commends the Sheriff and Miller for their effort but doesn't believe the solution to stopping school shootings are guns, but rather taking a psychological approach to the issue.
"What message do we send if we tell our kids that the violence if we bring more weapons into schools, do we tell kids that the violence we are trying to avoid is going to solve our problems," said Russo.
Those law enforcement officials who qualify will have the opportunity to be sworn in as deputies, then go back to school to get their teaching certification.
Russo said putting these officers in this role seems like an easy fix, but it doesn't solve the root of the problem.
"Why not provide more proactive counseling?" he explained. "I taught high school for 8 1/2 years, part of that in NYC, that's not always a fun task to do," Russo said. "Don't get me wrong, I like teaching, but if somebody is not mentally prepared to deal with kids on a day to day basis, I just wonder."
Sheriff Jones announced this initiative at a press conference today. It was an idea that originated from retired Mason Police Officer Scott Miller, who was injured in the line of duty and thought the plan would be great especially in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting.
"I thought it was a better option to have an experience battle-tested police officer in the schools in the event of a hostile shooter to prevent any kind of tragedy," said Miller.
Charles Russo, Panzer Chair of Education, of the University of Dayton has years of experience dealing with kids.
"To become a good teacher it takes a while, it took me years to learn to teach well," Said Russo.
Russo commends the Sheriff and Miller for their effort but doesn't believe the solution to stopping school shootings are guns, but rather taking a psychological approach to the issue.
"What message do we send if we tell our kids that the violence if we bring more weapons into schools, do we tell kids that the violence we are trying to avoid is going to solve our problems," said Russo.
Those law enforcement officials who qualify will have the opportunity to be sworn in as deputies, then go back to school to get their teaching certification.
Russo said putting these officers in this role seems like an easy fix, but it doesn't solve the root of the problem.
"Why not provide more proactive counseling?" he explained. "I taught high school for 8 1/2 years, part of that in NYC, that's not always a fun task to do," Russo said. "Don't get me wrong, I like teaching, but if somebody is not mentally prepared to deal with kids on a day to day basis, I just wonder."
