I am writing this letter in support of my daughter, Courtney Bell’s decision to recently resign from the Chinook School System where the school board recently passed a policy that said guns would be carried by some of their staff. I am proud of the way she has stood up for her belief that guns DO NOT belong in the hands of teachers in the school. I also DO NOT believe teachers should be asked to carry guns. Teachers have already been asked to wear many hats besides trying to educate our children. Now asking them to police the school where some of the staff would be carrying gunns and telling the staff that safety vests have been ordered for them to wear for their protection is going too far and is beyond my comprehension as an educator for 41 years. With that many years in the classroom, I feel I have a knowledge of what a good school environment is and should be. How many years in the classroom has the school board had? The school board should be willing to listen to those people that have had classroom experience, so they can learn what makes a good classroom environment and thus make good decisions for the school. I feel sad for the Chinook school staff and the students for being forced into this kind of enviroment and the added stress it will put on the staff and students.

I do not know why the Chinook school board feared for the safety of their staff and students and thought it was necessary to introduce guns into the schools. If there was this fear, I feel they should have hired a security guard to police the school halls or have a working relationship with the local police to periodically walk through the school halls rather than have some of the teachers become school policemen (women).

You are a strong woman, Courtney Bell, for standing up for what you believe is right. I am PROUD of you! We need more people like you in this world! Love, Your Mom.