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Illinois Teachers Chatboard

Get unemployment?

by Janice

Oct 15, 2012

After 4 years, getting Satisfactory or Excellent on all observations, all of a sudden I got Unsatisfactory and was told that I should resign or I would not be asked back and know one would hire me. My observation grades and my smative grades do no not match. So I was forced to resign. I still cannot get a job. So can I get unemployment?

view previous comments

Janice Thank you for your response.

On 10/16/12, anon wrote: > It is a falsehood to claim "teachers can rarely get > unemployment." They can, and they do. Even if you resigned > under force, get hold of an attorney and go to the unemployment > office to discuss the situation. The district might fight you, > so be prepared. > &...See More

Oct 16, 2012

sped On 10/15/12, Janice wrote: > After 4 years, getting Satisfactory or Excellent on all > observations, all of a sudden I got Unsatisfactory and was > told that I should resign or I would not be asked back and > know one would hire me. My observation grades and my > smative grades do no not match. So I was forced to resign. > I still...See MoreOn 10/15/12, Janice wrote: > After 4 years, getting Satisfactory or Excellent on all > observations, all of a sudden I got Unsatisfactory and was > told that I should resign or I would not be asked back and > know one would hire me. My observation grades and my > smative grades do no not match. So I was forced to resign. > I still cannot get a job. So can I get unemployment?

Aaaaah! You should have posted this in June, not October!!!

First off, you were entitled under the Illinois School Code to a right of review by the school board as a 4th year teacher. While it may have not saved your job, some administrators who are looking to cut a 4th year would rather not have to defend their decision and you MIGHT have simply been quietly asked back after making such a request. Even still, you could have gone to the board meeting and the board MIGHT have taken into account your previous three years of service. However, that ship has sailed since it is four months later and you've already resigned.

Secondly, you SHOULD have applied for unemployment on your first full week off at the end of the school year, which was likely in June. It doesn't matter if you were paid through the summer. That money is already earned, and exactly when they distribute it doesn't matter. If you were found eligible, you would have been paid for every week that you applied and certified through the electronic system.

However, that ship has also sailed. So, now you should apply for unemployment ASAP. Like, if you're reading this on Friday, APPLY TODAY!!!! Do not lie. State that you resigned. An "issue" will be opened by the unemployment agency. You will have to write a statement detailing why you resigned. Tell them you were forced to resign or you faced dismissal. Tell them your boss said you wouldn't ever get a job again, etc. Everything they said, tell them.

Most likely, you will get turned down right off the bat. Then, you will need to request and attend a hearing. Bring everything you have in writing. All your evals, any emails from your administrator or union suggesting you resign, everything. It will likely take a couple of months to get a hearing scheduled (which is why you should have done this in June). Make sure you certify every two weeks on your appointed date and time either over the phone or online. You won't get the check because your case is still pending, but you need to do this every two weeks to eventually get paid. If you don't certify for certain weeks, and you are eventually found eligible, you don't get paid for the weeks you didn't certify for. So, every two weeks while you're waiting for resolution of your case.

Most likely, you will get it, IF you are willing to put up with all the waiting and bureaucracy involved.

As far as hiring a lawyer..., you can, but realize it will cost... However, you may want to attend the first hearing on your own and you certainly don't need a lawyer to apply. Honestly, if you're smart enough to be a teacher, you should be smart enough to handle the Unemployment office. Most people go without a lawyer due to cost. If they decide against you, you can go to court and file a further appeal, and then will need a lawyer.

BTW, being non-renewed is not a death sentence for a teacher. I got hired and eventually became an administrator after a nonrenewal. I've also hired non-renewals. The application form used in Illinois asks about both being forced to resign AND non-renewal, so you'll have to check "yes," anyway. Some very bitter people on this board and others will tell you it is, however, that has not been my experience. Keep in mind, however, that if you're a general elem ed or high school social studies or English teacher, its extremely hard to find a job in general, so its not necessarily the non-renewal that is making it hard to find work..., just the fact that you're a teacher in a field that is not in demand.

Oct 18, 2012

Statement of deficiency

by Gab

Oct 18, 2012

I got my statement of deficiency and it turns out that beside the tests I need to take 32 hours of Spanish, since my endorsement is in Spanish!! how can I take 32 hours in less than a year? what will happen if I pass the stipulated date? is there a way I can waive ths 32 hours? I am a native Spanish Speaker so I can pass any test, but there is such...See More

view previous comments

sped On 10/19/12, Gab wrote: ----------------------------------------------------------------- > - > > Thanks for your answer. See, I do not have any problems taking > the classes, the problem is the money and the time. I do not > have the money to pay $100 or more per credit and even if I do, > I have just until June 2013!

Wh...See MoreOn 10/19/12, Gab wrote: ----------------------------------------------------------------- > - > > Thanks for your answer. See, I do not have any problems taking > the classes, the problem is the money and the time. I do not > have the money to pay $100 or more per credit and even if I do, > I have just until June 2013!

Why until June 2013? If its because the deficiency statement expires, that simply means that you must pay another application fee. This is a relatively small expense compared to the cash you will have to lay out to take a new college major.

> Probably I should have explained that I already have a Spanish > teaching certificate from Colorado; I went through the > alternative teaching program. They waived my 32 Spanish credits > because I have 10 years of experience teaching Spanish and I > passed the placement test. So, that frustrates me because here in Illinois, they say there is not other way to do this...

Yeah. Illinois really doesn't do reciprocity. Technically they do, but not like other states. For instance, a long time ago, I moved here from Michigan. I had earned my degree and teaching certificate there, though I never worked there as a teacher. Strangely, I had to take a middle school class if I wanted to teach grades 6-8, despite the fact that my Michigan certification was K-12 and we were supposed to have reciprocity. So, I took it and it wasn't an issue because my first year was at a high school

I can't see ISBE waiving all, or nearly all credit hours in a major. Its just not written into Illinois School Code.

> Anyways, I am new to this state, so I need all the help I can > get to go through this. If you know of anyway I can get this > credits asap I will appreciate it!

32 credit hours would be the equivalent of one year full time undergraduate study. Since we're in October already, you really only have one semester, maybe two if you find a college that has a really short Spring/Summer semester. Even if you aren't working and dedicate yourself fully to this, I just don't see anyone completing 32 credits in one semester.

There are accredited universities out there that offer online or correspondence classes that will count. You can complete some of them at your own pace, which in your case can be very fast. Unfortunately, a quick google search doesn't find many Spanish classes online. Brigham Young has one Spanish Lit course for 3 credits. University of North Dakota Independent study has a couple, but I don't know if you want to take Spanish 101 and learn to count in Spanish again. University of Phoenix has some content area courses, but it doesn't look like they have much Spanish available. The credits don't all have to be from the same university. You can search for some others, but again: June 2013 just doesn't seem possible to finish 10-11 classes.

Now, you must have a college degree of some sort. Have you looked at your transcripts and tried to figure out a teaching major that you might be able to put together? For instance, you may have taken a number of social sciences: history, psychology, poly sci, etc. (social studies is not a teaching field that is in demand at all in Illinois, but at least you would have a teaching certificate and you could add Spanish later). Or, you might have enough English, Bio, Chem, computers or math credits to get close to a teaching major there. You could then take a few classes, maybe via correspondence, and get an endorsement in another subject.

Now, luckily for you, you aren't totally shut out of teaching if you don't have another major. I also looked up the whole bilingual certification thing. Its called a Type 29 "transitional" teaching certificate. It is basically for people with a bachelor's degree in any subject who speak Spanish (and a couple of other languages, but mostly Spanish). So, you take a test to prove that you can speak Spanish, and boom, you're a bilingual teacher. You just have to take several courses over the next six years to get your full teaching certificate. Possibly similar to what you did in Colorado. However, you won't be teaching Spanish I to English speakers anymore. You'll be teaching native Spanish speakers core academics. From what I know, the bilingual/ ESL departments get a lot of leeway when it comes to "highly qualified" requirements, just like we do in the special ed department, so you could find yourself teaching any and all core content classes. If you want to get the classes to get the Spanish endorsement, you can do that too.

Also, its lucky for you that this is one of the very few teaching fields in Illinois that is actually hiring. This is why they have the "transitional" license. Basically any district with a lot of Spanish speakers will probably be looking for bilingual teachers, and in the Chicago-area, that is a lot of districts. If that interests you, here's a website:

[link removed]

Good Luck!

Oct 19, 2012

Gab On 10/19/12, sped wrote: > On 10/19/12, Gab wrote: > ----------------------------------------------------------------- >> - >> >> Thanks for your answer. See, I do not have any problems taking >> the classes, the problem is the money and the time. I do not >> have the money to pay $100 or more per credit and even...See MoreOn 10/19/12, sped wrote: > On 10/19/12, Gab wrote: > ----------------------------------------------------------------- >> - >> >> Thanks for your answer. See, I do not have any problems taking >> the classes, the problem is the money and the time. I do not >> have the money to pay $100 or more per credit and even if I do, >> I have just until June 2013! > > Why until June 2013? If its because the deficiency statement > expires, that simply means that you must pay another application fee. > This is a relatively small expense compared to the cash you will > have to lay out to take a new college major. > >> Probably I should have explained that I already have a Spanish >> teaching certificate from Colorado; I went through the >> alternative teaching program. They waived my 32 Spanish credits >> because I have 10 years of experience teaching Spanish and I >> passed the placement test. So, that frustrates me because here in > Illinois, they say there is not other way to do this... > > Yeah. Illinois really doesn't do reciprocity. Technically they do, > but not like other states. For instance, a long time ago, I moved > here from Michigan. I had earned my degree and teaching certificate > there, though I never worked there as a teacher. Strangely, I had to > take a middle school class if I wanted to teach grades 6-8, despite > the fact that my Michigan certification was K-12 and we were supposed > to have reciprocity. So, I took it and it wasn't an issue because my > first year was at a high school > > I can't see ISBE waiving all, or nearly all credit hours in a major. > Its just not written into Illinois School Code. > >> Anyways, I am new to this state, so I need all the help I can >> get to go through this. If you know of anyway I can get this >> credits asap I will appreciate it! > > 32 credit hours would be the equivalent of one year full time > undergraduate study. Since we're in October already, you really only > have one semester, maybe two if you find a college that has a really > short Spring/Summer semester. Even if you aren't working and > dedicate yourself fully to this, I just don't see anyone completing > 32 credits in one semester. > > There are accredited universities out there that offer online or > correspondence classes that will count. You can complete some of > them at your own pace, which in your case can be very fast. > Unfortunately, a quick google search doesn't find many Spanish > classes online. Brigham Young has one Spanish Lit course for 3 > credits. University of North Dakota Independent study has a couple, > but I don't know if you want to take Spanish 101 and learn to count > in Spanish again. University of Phoenix has some content area > courses, but it doesn't look like they have much Spanish available. > The credits don't all have to be from the same university. You can > search for some others, but again: June 2013 just doesn't seem > possible to finish 10-11 classes. > > Now, you must have a college degree of some sort. Have you looked at > your transcripts and tried to figure out a teaching major that you > might be able to put together? For instance, you may have taken a > number of social sciences: history, psychology, poly sci, etc. > (social studies is not a teaching field that is in demand at all in > Illinois, but at least you would have a teaching certificate and you > could add Spanish later). Or, you might have enough English, Bio, > Chem, computers or math credits to get close to a teaching major > there. You could then take a few classes, maybe via correspondence, > and get an endorsement in another subject. > > Now, luckily for you, you aren't totally shut out of teaching if you > don't have another major. I also looked up the whole bilingual > certification thing. Its called a Type 29 "transitional" teaching > certificate. It is basically for people with a bachelor's degree in > any subject who speak Spanish (and a couple of other languages, but > mostly Spanish). So, you take a test to prove that you can speak > Spanish, and boom, you're a bilingual teacher. You just have to take > several courses over the next six years to get your full teaching > certificate. Possibly similar to what you did in Colorado. However, > you won't be teaching Spanish I to English speakers anymore. You'll > be teaching native Spanish speakers core academics. From what I > know, the bilingual/ > ESL departments get a lot of leeway when it comes to "highly > qualified" requirements, just like we do in the special ed > department, so you could find yourself teaching any and all core > content classes. If you want to get the classes to get the Spanish > endorsement, you can do that too. > > Also, its lucky for you that this is one of the very few teaching > fields in Illinois that is actually hiring. This is why they have > the "transitional" license. Basically any district with a lot of > Spanish speakers will probably be looking for bilingual teachers, and > in the Chicago-area, that is a lot of districts. If that interests > you, here's a website: > > [link removed].

well, thanks again, you have been very helpful!

Oct 19, 2012

Biligual teacher

by Gabriela Reynosa

Oct 20, 2012

Does anybody know the fastest way to become an Bilingual teacher in Illinois?. I have a bachelors degree, I am bilingual, I have taught abroad. Do I need to take classes or just take a test?

Lou nn

Oct 20, 2012

Biligual teacher

by Gabriela Reynosa

Oct 20, 2012

Does anybody know the fastest way to become an Bilingual teacher in Illinois?. I have a bachelors degree, I am bilingual, I have taught abroad. Do I need to take classes or just take a test?

by Daisymom26@aol.com

Oct 22, 2012

Great primary game board on Teacher Pay Teacher for the election. Board is colorful filled with great pictures. Students are also shown how to make a stand up figure for Obama and Romney so they can use that to move around the board. Game was made by Christina Murphy. Find her game by typing in Kathy Romano (teach together so you wil see both names...See More

Advise on taking the TLP (56) -Spanish

by Becca

Nov 6, 2012

I am about to take the TLP (56) -Spanish, I have gone over the study guide on the web, but I think I need more practice. I am not a native Spanish speaker but I know the language very well since I lived about ten years in Guatemala and attended school there. Any advise will be greatly appreciated!

tyler Hmmm...I took this test in 2006 and it appears to have changed. There used to be a culture component that was a beast if you hadn't formally studied Spanish in an academic context, but that appears to have been removed. I have only heard of two oral prompts. Message me for more info.

On 11/06/12, Becca wrote: > I am about to take the T...See More

Nov 10, 2012

by DispareinChicago

Nov 7, 2012

Ok. I give up, I came to Illinois with my out of state license to teach Spanish and have not found anything, all I have been offer is ELL aid, or para.... I think is time to move to another field, since I need to eat and live....what other fields can a Spanish teacher get into to find a decent job? any advise will be appreciate it!

tyler Really? I see Spanish positions open regularly, even in good paying districts. We hired a Spanish teacher in 2011 and had the position posted for a month. We received 4 applications, only 1 of which was even remotely capable. I'd get all my stuff together and give it another shot this hiring season.

On 11/07/12, DispareinChicago wrote: &g...See More

Nov 10, 2012

me On 11/10/12, tyler wrote: > Really? I see Spanish positions open regularly, even in good > paying districts. We hired a Spanish teacher in 2011 and had > the position posted for a month. We received 4 applications, > only 1 of which was even remotely capable. I'd get all my > stuff together and give it another shot this hiring season...See More

Nov 19, 2012

This is My Illinois

by Elaine

Nov 20, 2012

What do you think of this new ad campaign by your governor [link removed]

thanks in advance

view previous comments

therealsped On 12/03/12, Merrillv2 wrote: > The state owes 43 billion to the TRS. > > This would be tragic save for the fact that teachers are simply not > entitled to a pension they did not contribute to. > > Unless I am shown evidence to the contrary, it is Illinois law that the > teachers have to contribute toward their pension, and the...See MoreOn 12/03/12, Merrillv2 wrote: > The state owes 43 billion to the TRS. > > This would be tragic save for the fact that teachers are simply not > entitled to a pension they did not contribute to. > > Unless I am shown evidence to the contrary, it is Illinois law that the > teachers have to contribute toward their pension, and the employer > matches. The law does not say teachers get free retirement.

Ah, but unless you're a judge hearing a court case, your opinion on the law doesn't matter, so you don't have to be shown evidence. Also, you have an agenda driven by hatred and jealousy of teachers, so there really is no need to show you evidence.>

> > Don't quit your day job as slum landlord yet sped (and God only knows how > much taxpayer money is being funneled to you in that pursuit). Your > pension is in trouble, and the public has had enough.

See, you just make stuff up. Slum landlord? Taxpayer money? What are you talking about? Just simply fantasy. I said I own rental properties. I didn't say anything about slums, low-income, tax-payer supported, or anything like that.

But, you don't like me, so... let's just make something up. Let's see, yeah how 'bout I'm not a US citizen and I wasn't born where I said I was, so I can't have my job. Oh wait, that doesn't quite work. Well, OK, slum lord then... as long as I'm icky. I'm not a success story who is well-respected leader in my field and a successful businessman. Nope, I must be bad because I don't sound like the people on Fox news who tell you how to think.

> Now I need to go back to work as a PRODUCTIVE member of the private sector.

Hmmm, the private sector. Maybe you work for the banks..., they haven't taken government money. Oh wait, they would have collapsed without government funding. Maybe you work for an auto company. Oh darn, they all took government money. Maybe you work for the airlines. Oh wait, every one of them would be gone without government support after 9/11. Well, maybe you work in construction. Oh wait, without the recent stimulus and regular government support of the housing, commercial, and road sectors, you wouldn't be working. Maybe you're a doctor. Oh wait, you couldn't keep your doors open without Medicare and Medicaid payments. Maybe you're a farmer. Oh wait, without subsidy, you wouldn't make enough to stay in business. Huh, are you sure you're not soaking the tax payers? Who is the parasite again?

You're the one who came to a teacher website spouting anti-teacher rhetoric troll. Bye-bye.

Dec 4, 2012

Merrillv2 On 12/04/12, therealsped wrote: > On 12/03/12, Merrillv2 wrote: >> The state owes 43 billion to the TRS. >> >> This would be tragic save for the fact that teachers are simply not >> entitled to a pension they did not contribute to. >> >> Unless I am shown evidence to the contrary, it is Illinois law that the &...See MoreOn 12/04/12, therealsped wrote: > On 12/03/12, Merrillv2 wrote: >> The state owes 43 billion to the TRS. >> >> This would be tragic save for the fact that teachers are simply not >> entitled to a pension they did not contribute to. >> >> Unless I am shown evidence to the contrary, it is Illinois law that the >> teachers have to contribute toward their pension, and the employer >> matches. The law does not say teachers get free retirement. > > Ah, but unless you're a judge hearing a court case, your opinion on the law > doesn't matter, so you don't have to be shown evidence. Also, you have an > agenda driven by hatred and jealousy of teachers, so there really is no need > to show you evidence.>

No need to show me evidence because you have none. The law says you have to contribute to your pension: the backroom deal between the unions and the districts is either outright illegal or open to serious challenge. I'll let the state figure that one out.

>> >> Don't quit your day job as slum landlord yet sped (and God only knows how >> much taxpayer money is being funneled to you in that pursuit). Your >> pension is in trouble, and the public has had enough. > > See, you just make stuff up. Slum landlord? Taxpayer money? What are you > talking about? Just simply fantasy. I said I own rental properties. I > didn't say anything about slums, low-income, tax-payer supported, or anything > like that. > > But, you don't like me, so... let's just make something up. Let's see, yeah > how 'bout I'm not a US citizen and I wasn't born where I said I was, so I > can't have my job. Oh wait, that doesn't quite work. Well, OK, slum lord > then... as long as I'm icky. I'm not a success story who is well-respected > leader in my field and a successful businessman. Nope, I must be bad because > I don't sound like the people on Fox news who tell you how to think. > >> Now I need to go back to work as a PRODUCTIVE member of the private sector. > > Hmmm, the private sector. Maybe you work for the banks..., they haven't > taken government money. Oh wait, they would have collapsed without > government funding. Maybe you work for an auto company. Oh darn, they all > took government money. Maybe you work for the airlines. Oh wait, every one > of them would be gone without government support after 9/11. Well, maybe you > work in construction. Oh wait, without the recent stimulus and regular > government support of the housing, commercial, and road sectors, you wouldn't > be working. Maybe you're a doctor. Oh wait, you couldn't keep your doors > open without Medicare and Medicaid payments. Maybe you're a farmer. Oh > wait, without subsidy, you wouldn't make enough to stay in business. Huh, > are you sure you're not soaking the tax payers? Who is the parasite again? > > You're the one who came to a teacher website spouting anti-teacher rhetoric > troll. Bye-bye.

When did I say I supported government bailouts of the private sector? I don't. Obviously there are special circumstances such as 911, but as a general rule, I do not support privatizing gains and socializing losses.

I am not anti-teacher, I am anti-corruption. The pension fiasco is another example of parasites feeding on the taxpayer's nipple. If you paid into your pension as you were obligated by law to do, you have a claim to that pension. If you didn't contribute shi* and expect people at WalMart to pay for your retirement, you can go scratch.

Dec 5, 2012

Teacher "Bar" Exam Called For

by sped

Dec 8, 2012

Illinois already basically requires this through the basic skills test (usually taken before admission to an Illinois education program), content area tests, and the APT, but I personally think it is a good idea to adopt state-wide. Illinois, apparently, has increased the difficulty of the Basic Skills test, and it has a high failure rate. I think ...See More

view previous comments

anon This isn't unique to Illinois; this is true in every school district in the United States.

Transfer processes make it very, very difficult for any outside teacher with no connections to get hired anywhere. The only hope an outsider has is getting hired after the beginning of the school year or well into the school year (school districts d...See MoreThis isn't unique to Illinois; this is true in every school district in the United States.

Transfer processes make it very, very difficult for any outside teacher with no connections to get hired anywhere. The only hope an outsider has is getting hired after the beginning of the school year or well into the school year (school districts do hire all year long). In my old school district in Nevada, the transfer process continued right up until the first day of school, late in August. But the district also had year-round schools, so the transfer process for "excessed" or "overaged" teachers began right about at the same time the traditional calendar teachers started work.

On 1/03/13, Merrillv2 wrote: > On 1/02/13, newspedcity wrote: >> On 1/01/13, Gloria wrote: >> >>> I may not make a lot of money as a teacher. I made >>> a lot more in my former corporate career. But my >>> former career was not fulfilling. Projects I worked >>> on were obsolete a year later. >> >> You'll notice Gloria, that those of us who actually >> have jobs as educators are rational people, while >> those without jobs name-call and pretty much make >> stuff up. I think the teacher hiring system is just >> fine... > > I think we need to understand the reasons for the > hiring issues and massive unemployment among teachers > in Illinois. This is a complex issue, but I will point > out some facts: > > 1. "One problem related to the destructive > transfer system is a hiring process that takes too long > and/or starts too late, thanks in part to union > contracts. Would-be teachers typically cannot be hired > until senior teachers have had their pick of the > vacancies, and the transfer process makes principals > reluctant to post vacancies at all for fear of having a > bad teacher fill it instead of a promising new > hire." In other words, jobs are not posted because > of issues with the collective bargaining agreements. > > 2. Affirmative action policies in the CPS: white or > Asian teachers essentially cannot be hired in black, > inner-city schools. The faculty at these schools, > according to CPS policy, must be within a certain > demographic percentage-point range of the community it > serves. > > 3. As is true with any guild, cartel, or trade > organization, keeping the number of workers > artificially low is a primary goal. This seems > counter-intuitive in that it would seem more union > members makes for a stronger union, but that is not the > case. The fewer qualified workers available means > higher salaries for people in the system. The idea that > there is a "teacher shortage" (which there is > not), is put forth by those who want higher salaries > for existing teachers. > > 4. Supply and demand: there are simply too many > unemployed teachers in Illinois, and schools of > education keep churning them out. > > 5. Hiring has a strong political component, with the > daughters of coaches and principals being given jobs, > people connected to Aldermen and other Democratic Party > officials, etc. The whole "who you know" > issue. > > So what we have is a problem involving market forces, > collective bargaining red-tape, and political policy, > making it very difficult, if not impossible, for new > teachers to get into the system.

Jan 4, 2013

Mary On 1/04/13, anon wrote: > This isn't unique to Illinois; this is true in every school > district in the United States. > > Transfer processes make it very, very difficult for any > outside teacher with no connections to get hired anywhere. > The only hope an outsider has is getting hired after the > beginning of the school year...See More

Jan 6, 2013

Another shooting !!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Lu

Dec 14, 2012

I am in shock! what is it in this country that the shooting happen in schools???? I know shootings happen around the globe, but why only in USA this happens in schools? What are we doing wrong as a society? as teachers what can we do???

sped On 12/14/12, Lu wrote: > I am in shock! what is it in this country that the shooting > happen in schools????

Guns. Lots of guns sold to people who may not qualify for a driver's license, but they can buy a gun without a test or qualification. You need to be 21 to buy a beer, but 18 to buy an AK-47 in most states.

I know shoo...See MoreOn 12/14/12, Lu wrote: > I am in shock! what is it in this country that the shooting > happen in schools????

Guns. Lots of guns sold to people who may not qualify for a driver's license, but they can buy a gun without a test or qualification. You need to be 21 to buy a beer, but 18 to buy an AK-47 in most states.

I know shootings happen around the > globe,

Not nearly as much. In Canada there were under 200 gun homicides. About 1/3 of those were from guns illegally imported from the US. 15 percent of them were committed by Americans. That's a significant number! 15 percent of gun murders in your entire nation were committed by another nationality visiting your nation! Americans love gun murder SO MUCH, we export it to Canada! BTW, there were over 10,000 gun homicides in the US. Yes, Canada has 1/8 of the population of the US. So, if you multiply Canada's 200 x 8, you get 1600. And, remember, a significant chunk of those murder were committed by violent foreigners who live next door (Americans), so if they banned Americans, they would drop their gun murder rate significantly. If the US had a similar gun homicide rate to Canada, there would be more than 9000 fewer gun homicides.

Why does Canada have so many fewer gun homicides? Fewer handguns and almost no assault weapons. They can still hunt, and even protect their home with a shotgun, but they can't have an AK-47 or order 10,000 pistol rounds online.

> but why only in USA this happens in schools?

There have been a rash of attacks in China on school children with knives. Now, there are almost no privately owned guns in China. On the same day as the Connecticut shooting, a Chinese man attacked a Chinese school with a knife. 22 children were WOUNDED. Now, that's terrible, but what's the difference? Those children LIVED! Again, they've been through something terrible and were hurt, but they lived. If that crazy guy was able to get ahold of an AK-47 or a Glock-19, as he would be able to easily in the US, what might he have done? Well, we need only look at Connecticut to figure that one out.

What > are we doing wrong as a society?

Selling guns to anyone over 18. We license people who drive cars. We make them take tests and demonstrate competence, but guns? Eh, show me an ID, gimme $400 and off you go with the standard infantry rifle of the Russian Army.

as teachers what can we > do???

Demand gun control now. The numbers prove that owning guns doesn't make us safer. In fact, it makes us much, much less safe and less free.

Dec 17, 2012

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