Posted on 10/08/2005 9:31:38 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
Principals to decide if Eddie Eagle books will be allowed in Unified schools
By Robert Gutsche Jr
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.
But visuals of gay sex are just good clean fun, right?
My kids have a better class of grandparents, thank God.
But visuals of gay sex are just good clean fun, right?
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This sick, perverted left will not allow the NRA books. But queer sex is just fine for our young minds....all these liberal "teachers" should registered as sexual deviants.
I don't know what goes on in the Racine, WI, schools regarding sex-ed. The intellectual level of the administration doesn't impress me, though ... the anti-gun ideologue, and the other guy who thinks "20/20" provides objective information. Sheesh.
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