Nobody said it was teachers' jobs to raise kids. Yet, the argument can be made: the governments of our countries demand that children be put into educational institutions for most of the day, five days a week. While they are in school, they are under the guardianship of the teachers and staff. In many ways, teachers do help to raise children. Any teacher will tell you: teaching is more than just imparting facts on children. Teaching is also about looking after many children's wellbeing; recognizing when a student is having a hard time; helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds or from unstable home lives to make something better of themselves. It's not just a day job.
Some parents aren't fit to raise kids, just like some teachers aren't fit to teach. That doesn't mean we just roll over and say "oh well, nothing to say, nothing to do. It is what it is". People should be striving to make mental health services better, to train teachers in counselling, to enable schools to better identify students who are at risk for, or are currently experiencing, issues with their mental health.
That should be the logical step forward.
Here in Ireland, I would expect that if a kid shot up a school, questions would be asked. Questions like "why did everyone fail to notice these risks?"
Some parents aren't fit to raise kids, just like some teachers aren't fit to teach. That doesn't mean we just roll over and say "oh well, nothing to say, nothing to do. It is what it is". People should be striving to make mental health services better, to train teachers in counselling, to enable schools to better identify students who are at risk for, or are currently experiencing, issues with their mental health.
That should be the logical step forward.
Here in Ireland, I would expect that if a kid shot up a school, questions would be asked. Questions like "why did everyone fail to notice these risks?"
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