The number of school shootings seems to have recently increased exponentially. Daily strip searches of students, staff, and visitors for guns, knives, and other weapons will not eliminate problems. Weapons are not the problem, human behavior is the problem. “Weapon free zones” create killing fields. One or two armed police officers would not stop a determined killer. They would be the first killed. Immediate defense to protect schools requires well trained teachers, staff, and parents. Legally carried concealed weapons (lethal or non-lethal) can quickly limit or prevent harm. Rapid response (seconds, not minutes) requires both well trained people and immediate access to weapons to disrupt the attack. Custom shotguns, securely stored, with ballistic bean bag ammo could disable threats with less danger to other people.

The major problem is teaching of basic morality, respect, proper language, and self discipline has been removed from families and schools. Propaganda has nearly destroyed the common American culture of hard work, individual accomplishment, and opportunities to succeed. It teaches some are not equal to others. Politicians benefit when poorly educated people can be played, one group against another. Public education does not teach about the Congressional investigation into $1.25 billion spent to subvert education prior to 1954.

Schools were carefully divided into grades so older siblings cannot protect younger ones from bullying. Younger ones are not there reporting problems created by older students. Worse yet, older students are not tutoring and guiding younger ones, an activity that improves learning for both.

Structuring classes more like old one room schools has an advantage. Older students want to impress younger ones with their knowledge, so they study more. Younger ones want to emulate older students. Teachers inspire students, and concentrate their skills where most needed.

Social media seems to increase unsocial behavior. Each classroom must have racks to store cell phones during class (left on for emergencies). All math should be taught without electronic devices (slide rules would be allowed). People who estimate what should be correct answers recognize errors. Computers can fail due to programming errors, data entry mistakes, or spiders walking on circuit boards.

School boards should hold competitions getting students to compare current textbooks to documented original sources. How much money could schools gain by lawsuits against publishers providing deliberate false materials? Students should know true history, not propaganda.

People are taught not to think. The Second Amendment protects the First Amendment. The Founding Fathers knew armed citizens could protect themselves, their families, and country not only from criminals and enemy invasion, but from corrupt politicians. People are not trained to defend themselves. How many people grab their cell phones and take videos, rather than help, seek shelter, or call 911? How many think police or medical personnel can instantly arrive? All school personnel and students must be trained in first aid, and proper actions in emergencies. Be prepared to protect yourself.

Thomas Fancher is a Moses Lake resident and avid letter writer to the Columbia Basin Herald. He can be reached at tech2116@nwi.net.