In the wake of the tragic mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., teachers unions are working together to help educators discuss gun violence with their students on a webpage called “United for Orlando.”
The effort unites the two largest teachers unions in the country — the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers — as well as the 140,000-member Florida Education Association. The “United for Orlando” page is on ShareMyLesson, a public lesson database for teachers that’s powered by the AFT.
The materials are mostly, but not entirely, neutral on the political issue of gun control.
“As the tragic details associated with the attack in Orlando, Fla., unfold, we all are struggling to find the words to articulate what happened and what to do next,” the ShareMyLesson website says. “Your students and children are no exception. Share My Lesson has teaching materials and resources that will help you offer support. See the collection for ideas on helping students cope with fear, grief, bullying, gun violence, traumatic events, stereotyping and scapegoating, as well as on how to be an ally.”
A page posted on United for Orlando by PBS NewsHour Extra features video coverage of the Orlando attack, background information and discussion questions teachers can use. The only discussion question even remotely related to gun control is “What do you think the U.S. should do to prevent mass shootings like this in the future?”
But the United for Orlando page also lists a resource posted by the Anti-Defamation League from late 2015, focusing on the San Bernardino, Calif., and Umpqua Community College shootings. That page has a quote from President Obama calling for gun control laws, but also a paragraph on gun rights activists.
Defenders of gun rights say that proposed gun regulations violate the Second Amendment, which says, “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” After the Newtown shooting, the president of the National Rifle Association, (NRA) a national nonprofit organization that advocates and lobbies for gun rights said, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” Indeed, many people believe that guns prevent crime from happening.
That’s followed by poll data from Pew Research Center.
85% of Americans favor expanded background checks.
79% favor laws to prevent people with mental illness from purchasing guns.
70% support the creation of a federal database to track all gun sales.
57% support a ban on assault-style weapons.
50% say it is more important to control gun ownership than to protect the rights of gun owners.
47% say it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns than to control gun ownership.
The discussion questions listed include “What do you think should be done to keep people safe from gun violence?” and “Why do you think so many people feel it is important to protect people’s right to own guns?” Deeper discussion questions continue to be fairly neutral, including “What can we do ‘to get our government to do something about gun violence’ as President Obama urged after the recent school shooting in Oregon?” and “How is the NRA successful in making their case that guns should not be regulated more than they already are?”
The page then lists ideas for taking action, including writing a letter to the students’ member of Congress with a position on gun violence.
But then the page suggests students “join with or hold a fundraiser” for Newtown Action Alliance, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. All four groups support gun control.
The Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees also helped support the United for Orlando page.
Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
