Posted on 10/07/2005 7:17:30 AM PDT by holymoly
RACINE - Racine Unified School District principals will decide if the National Rifle Association's "Eddie Eagle" coloring books will be used in their elementary schools, the district said Thursday.
But to get the controversial coloring books - which were approved for Racine Police Department officers to use in gun-safety training classes by the City Council this week - an elementary principal would have to ask the Police Department to bring the books to their school. If that's done, the material would go before the district's curriculum committee, which would determine whether the books meet curriculum standards.
"The district then could say `No' if it reviewed the material and it determined they (the coloring books) were not appropriate," said Unified Spokeswoman Linda Flashinski.
But district officials wouldn't explain why they will wait for principals to request the Eddie Eagle books before deciding if the materials would meet school standards or if the books are effective educational tools.
One principal says no One elementary school principal has decided the coloring books - which have images of children and guns - are things she doesn't want in her school.
"I have a real concern of having children coloring guns," said Sharon J. Campbell, principal of Jones Elementary School, who reviewed some of the Eddie Eagle material. "I'm not sure a coloring book is the best way to teach gun safety."
Alderman Pete Karas led the charge against the books. Among the evidence for his concerns was a 2002 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics that found the Eddie Eagle program was "effective for teaching children to reproduce verbally the gun safety message," but that many children didn't act out the lessons in role-playing games.
Supporters of Eddie Eagle, including those with the NRA and on the City Council, say the program works and familiarizes children with guns to prevent accidental injuries and deaths.
Campbell said she'd rather have officers come into schools to talk about "all kinds of safety" and build relationships with students instead of only talking about gun safety and distributing the books.
"My big litmus test is, `Would I want my grandchildren to do this?' " said Campbell, who also opposes the books because they come from the NRA. "And my answer is, `No, I wouldn't want my granddaughter to be coloring in guns.' Visuals of guns are inappropriate for children."
Unified Superintendent Thomas Hicks said any decision the district makes on the Eddie Eagle books won't be political, even if the books are from the NRA.
"The issue is not whether anyone is for or against guns," he said. "The issue is that any curriculum that is introduced to our students must go through a process, since we need to be able to assure our parents that the materials their children are being exposed to are appropriate."
Campbell said she would support a more complete program to teach safety beyond what Jones Elementary already does, if the city would help fund more programs similar to DARE and Officer Friendly - anti-drug and safety programs that have been defunct for several years because of city budget cuts.
City officials defend books
Alderman Greg Helding, who voted with the majority in Tuesday's 8-to-7 decision to allow police to use the Eddie Eagle books, said he doesn't think the city should be paying for gun-safety education. He was one of the aldermen who liked that the Eddie Eagle coloring books were free.
"I think the School District should be spending money on education," he said. "To design educational programs for them, that's not our (the city's) mission."
Sgt. Bill Macemon, the Police Department's spokesman, said the department will not pressure any group, including Boy and Girl Scouts, or schools to use the coloring books, but said they were a good option for those wanting to teach children how to stay away from guns and report them to adults.
"Our crime prevention officer now is open to doing presentations on request," Macemon said. "If the School District approaches us ... this is a program we are prepared to offer."
Karas still fighting
After hearing Thursday about Unified's decision, Karas said he planned to continue his fight to keep the books out of students' hands.
Wednesday, he viewed a 1999 TV news report from ABC's "20/20" that suggested the full Eddie Eagle program, which includes the coloring books, didn't work.
In the report, of 20 children who completed the gun-safety training, 17 found guns in a test. Of the 17 who found the guns, three called police; the others played with the guns.
"I am more convinced than ever that not only is this program ineffective, but also harmful to our children," Karas said.
Anybody remember Eddie the Eagle, the ski jumper?
http://www.nyt.co.uk/eddiethe.htm
Homosexual materials are OK by these nitwits but firearm safety isn't just because they are anti-gun??
I think JPFO has some pamphlets that can be used as coloring books.
"Dial 911 and Die", "The Nazi Roots of Gun Control", and others.
They are much more political than anything NRA offers under the Eddy Eagle program. I say we should offer the JPFO books as the alternative.
Did you see the video of the cop who shot himself in the leg recently?
He was teaching gun safety at a grade school!
NRA teaches more gun safety, safely, than all the cop shops in the U.S. combined!
As a teacher, I have absolutely no idea what that is. :)
Good one. You're right. Kids see more on TV and in movies than this book would ever show. I liked the Lord of the Rings Trilogy a lot, but I would hesitate showing it to a 6-year-old. However, almost every kid in my class last year (in a conservative Christian area) had seen it. Of course, it is a better movie than some, but it still surprises me what some parents will let their kids watch. But that's that and I can't judge the parents too much because many of them are such good people.
The policeman that comes in and teaches my kids does a good Job. He uses visuals to explain about gun safety and it's no big thing. Being a second amendment supporter myself, I think it is good that there are programs like Eddie the Eagle out there. It looks to be a very good one even though I haven't used it yet (but may sometime soon). The general thing around here is to say that kids should not mess around with guns unless one of their parents handles guns and lets them participate. Some kids miss a little school during the hunt and that's fine--for some it's a family-building activity. That's great. My dad used to take us hunting too. I REALLY like seeing some people like the Second Amendment Sisters out there. They're pretty cool ladies.
I took the NRA gun safety class at age 11 before my father gave me a .22.
It was training that you can't put a price on, and I recommend it without qualification.
GREAT!!! The gun safety classes around here are VERY popular.
For any/all interested (workbooks, videos, etc.):
http://www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/materials.asp
Hey thanks!!!!!! I've been wanting to check that out. I teach first grade.
He was teaching gun safety at a grade school!
My dad was a rookie scoutmaster and was teaching us axe safety. He cut himself on an axe. The assistant whipped out a bandaid from his wallet. My dad has carried a bandaid in his wallet ever since.
Seems to me that educating children to leave guns alone is a good idea. Why this would be opposed is beyond me.
Me too. But at least it's not that way where I teach. BTW, sounds like you had a wonderful father. My dad also taught us a respect for firearms. We never were tempted to use his, but we sure had fun when he took us out to shoot clay pigeons.
Eddie Eagle has saved a hundred times the number of children saved by the efforts of Sarah Brady and....
That Bady Bunch was a conniving lot, weren't they?:)
You may be able to get the materials at no cost. (If you haven't already seen this).
http://www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/fact.asp
"If you are eligible for grant funding (school, law enforcement, hospital, daycare center, or library only), simply call the NRA sales office at 1-800-336-7406 and ask if there is grant funding in your state. If funding is available, then place your order. No grant application is necessary."
If you see a gun:
STOP!
Don't Touch.
Leave the Area.
Tell an Adult.
How is that "pro-gun"?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why are these libwackos really against "Eddie Eagle"?
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