Teachers say #ArmMeWith classroom resources instead of guns
In the wake of yet another tragic school shooting, teachers have started an eye-opening movement on social media to let the world know what preventative measures really need to be taken seriously to protect students.
In response to the recent mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, President Trump suggested that some teachers receive gun training so they can be armed in their classrooms. But rather than adding more guns to educational environments, teachers are using the hashtag #ArmMeWith to share far more peaceful resources they wish to be armed with, such as school supplies, mental health resources and funding, impactful changes in curriculum, and stronger gun control legislation.
The movement was started by two educators: Brittany Wheaton, a teacher in Utah, and Olivia Bertels from Kansas. Both 27-year-olds met through Instagram, according to Buzzfeed, and eagerly asked the online teacher community to share their personal thoughts on how to ensure the safety and proper education of students.
Teachers across the U.S. have been using the hashtag.
One high school English teacher requested a "curriculum that tells the truth, the ability to teach the truth, a society that believes the truth, and political leaders who make laws based on the truth."
Others asked to be armed with more on-site mental health professionals, like school counselors and social workers, as well as self-care classes, bullet-proof glass, an enhanced library, and a range of other resources that focus on the physical, mental, and emotional care of students and faculty members.
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"Since teachers are the individuals in the classroom when it happens, I like to think we know what's best for our students," Wheaton told Buzzfeed. "If you're an educator, you know that [more guns] is not a solution to stopping the violence that's happening in our schools."
For those looking to participate in the movement, Wheaton has shared a blank #ArmMeWith template that can be downloaded and filled out.
Nicole is a Senior Editor at Mashable. She primarily covers entertainment and digital culture trends, and in her free time she can be found watching TV, sending voice notes, or going viral on Twitter for admiring knitwear. You can follow her on Twitter @nicolemichele5.
