https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/12/santa-fe-school-shooting-texas-greg-abbott-counselors/amp/
Texas is one of the few states that doesn’t require counselors in their schools, however, due to the recent shooting in Santa Fe Governor Greg Abbott wants to hire more counselors in order to put more attention to the mental health of the students. This is his soft approach to fixing the bigger problem that deals with school shootings. There should be 250 students to 1 counselor yet there is 684 students to 1 counselor in the schools of Texas. While putting more focus on the mental health of the students would be beneficial (and it would also flag the students who were more at risk) it is still not enough. Most school counselors don’t have the luxury to be able to sit down and talk to all the students about their mental health because most are given administrative tasks on top of their regular duties. As well as the fact that given the stigma on mental health, most kids don’t like going to the counselor and talking about their problems.
I do believe it would be beneficial but there needs to be more things done as well in order to stop the bigger problem that we have with school shootings. We do not need to arm teachers and train them to fight off a school shooters, nor do we need to equip schools with armed security guards or metal detectors. The governors and those with power need to stress to our government of tighter gun laws. Having stricter gun laws does not take away your right to bear arms. It just makes it harder for those who shouldn’t have access, gain access. That is what those who are against stricter gun laws need to understand. We aren’t taking away your right to want to hunt or protect your home if something were to happen. It makes sure that those who are bearing arms are mentally capable, are fully educated on guns, and etc.
Do you believe in Governor Greg Abbott’s thoughts on how we need to hire more counselors in the schools to put more emphasis on the mental health of the students to stop school shootings? Or do you believe that even in doing so, it won’t be enough and ultimately stricter gun laws are the true answer in solving our problem?