COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The Cobb County community is buzzing with reactions following Lt. Governor Burt Jones' recent announcement of plans to incentivize arming teachers during the upcoming legislative session.
This proposal has stirred a debate among parents and teachers about the safety and effectiveness of such a plan.
Jones' proposal involves offering an additional $10,000 per year to teachers who agree to carry a weapon on campus as part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing school security.
President of the Cobb County Association of Educators, Jeff Hubbard, is among those who are firmly against arming teachers.
"I teach. I don't play sheriff," he emphasized, expressing his concerns about the potential risks. "What if somebody grabs the gun? What if somebody in an elementary school forgets and leaves the gun unattended?"
Hubbard has been actively involved in the discussions around this topic since the Cobb County School District considered its own safety measures last year. In that instance, the district decided to have specially trained personnel, rather than educators, carry weapons in schools.
"The Cobb County School District appointed Josh Morrell as our security director and working in conjunction with our Cobb County School District Police Department, we have specifically trained personnel carrying weapons in our schools," Hubbard explained.
However, the conversation has taken on a larger scale this time around, with Jones aiming to introduce legislation that would provide teachers with an extra $10,000 per year for carrying a weapon on campus and inside the classroom. Hubbard argues that these funds could be better allocated elsewhere.
"Hire trained, qualified people. Put it in block grants for smaller counties," he suggested as an alternative.
Jessica Francis, a concerned parent with a child attending Cobb County schools, echoes these worries. "Especially with how poorly teachers are paid in general, I'm concerned that we're going to have teachers that aren't actually comfortable with the role going in and saying, 'OK,'" she said.
Francis believes there are alternative, more effective ways to ensure the safety of students without having teachers armed.
Additionally, she expressed concerns about the potential impact on teachers' mental health if they were placed in a position where they had to use a firearm to protect students.
The proposal to incentivize arming teachers has ignited a passionate debate in Cobb County, with opinions on both sides of the issue. As this discussion continues, the community will await further developments in the upcoming legislative session.