Accidental Blogger

Conservative school administrators and state legislators in Texas have gained plenty of notoriety for attempting (without success) to ban the teaching of evolution, using laughable misinformation and spurious threats.  Some school districts have repeatedly tried to introduce Christian prayer in public schools.  Having failed to drag God into the class room, at least one Texas school district has succeeded in admitting into their educational milieu the second most favorite object of admiration of right wingers – guns.

There’s one item Houston-area school officials say teachers can leave at home when classes resume later this month: Their handguns. Houston school districts said there’s no way they’ll follow the lead of a tiny North Texas school system that may be the first in the nation to let employees pack heat at their lone 110-student K-12 campus.

Harrold Superintendent David Thweatt said his school board unanimously passed the policy last October to protect employees and students in the case of an armed intruder or hostage situation. He wouldn’t say how many teachers went through the authorization process, which includes receiving a Texas concealed handgun license and undergoing crisis management training.

Thweatt said that despite the outrage from his public school peers, Harrold stands by its decision. The first few months of the new policy have gone smoothly, he said.

"We think we have acted cautiously and wisely," said Thweatt. "Others should be free to govern their school districts as they see fit."

Thweatt said the small community is a 30-minute drive from the sheriff’s office, leaving students and teachers without protection. He said the district’s lone campus is situated just 500 feet from heavily trafficked U.S. 287, which could make it a target.

Texas’ penal code prohibits firearms at schools "unless pursuant to the written regulations or written authorization of the institution."

It comes hardly as a surprise that this absurd and dangerous decision by the school board has the enthusiastic support of our ignorant governor, Rick Good Hair Perry.