Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Passport
  • Support WSKG
Donate
  • Donate
  • logo
  • logo
  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Your Radio
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
  • Donate
  • More
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Passport
    • Support WSKG

WSKG - Local news and arts, broadcasting NPR radio and PBS TV.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...
  • Donate your vehicle to support WSKG

WSKG (https://wskg.org/news/new-yorks-education-commissioner-calls-proposal-to-fund-guns-in-schools-atrocious/)

  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Your Radio
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
Listen Live WSKG
Listen Live WSKG Classical

Watch Live WSKG TV
Watch Live PBS Kids
Learn at Home
Covid-19 information

New York’s Education Commissioner Calls Proposal To Fund Guns In Schools ‘Atrocious’

By Eileen Buckley | August 27, 2018
More
  • More on binghamton
  • Subscribe to binghamton
BUFFALO, NY (WBFO) – New York State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia is speaking out against a proposal to use federal dollars to buy guns for educators. WBFO’s senior reporter Eileen Buckley got reaction when Commissioner Elia appeared in Buffalo Friday. 

NYSED Commissioner MaryEllen Elia with Buffalo Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash at McKinley High School for district-wide graduation event. CREDIT WBFO NEWS PHOTO BY EILEEN BUCKLEY

“That is just beyond the pale to think that that’s just something that’s reasonable. It’s atrocious and really, I think, ill-conceived,” Elia declared. Commissioner Elia is outraged U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s eyeing a plan to allow states to use federal grant dollars to buy guns for school teachers.
The Education Department wants to use Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants, which have a loophole that would allow the purchase of weapons by states. Elia tells WBFO News teachers should not have to worry about having a gun in their desk.

“Why would we think that it is alright to expect teachers, who have so many other things on their plate to do to support kids, have to have and be thinking of a gun that’s in the drawer,” Elia responded.

Commissioner Elia made her remarks while appearing Friday morning at McKinley High School for a Buffalo Public School District, city-wide high school graduation ceremony. Elia said the federal grant funding is designed for students, not guns.

NYSED Commissioner Elia appeared in Buffalo Friday calling atrocious & ludicrous. CREDIT WBFO NEWS PHOTO BY EILEEN BUCKLEY

“Those funds are identified for students who are ‘at-risk’ and it provides teaching and learning resources for them and I think it’s absolutely ludicrous that we would ever consider using those funds that are tight enough in our state for all the needs of our students to provide guns and then, even beyond that, to expect that our teachers are going to be ready to pick up a gun and in some way protect their children. This is not what we need to do in education. Our teachers have so many other responsibilities,” Elia remarked.

The State Education Department, the New York State Board of Regents and the state’s largest teachers union, New York State United Teachers, are all ‘adamantly’ opposed to arming teachers.

“It’s worse than reckless. It’s dangerous. Deadly weapons don’t belong in classrooms full of little children, in the hands of educators who have stated repeatedly that they don’t want them. Classrooms should be safe refuges for students, where caring educators can nurture their love for teaching and learning. At NYSUT, we will continue to work toward that goal, supporting sensible safety measures that are embraced by educators and their local communities. This idea is a distraction,” stated New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta.

Recent Posts

  • New York Announces Agreement To Decommission Indian Point Nuclear Plant

    BUFFALO, NY (WBFO) - New York state leaders say an agreement has been reached concerning the decommissioning and cleanup of the Indian Point nuclear power plant in the lower Hudson Valley. If approved by the state Public Service Commission, the agreement would transfer ownership of the facility from Entergy to Holtec International.

  • PA’s House Speaker Tests Positive For COVID-19

    HARRISBURG, PA (WSKG)– The speaker of the Pennsylvania House has tested positive for the coronavirus. Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster County) started quarantining three days ago, after learning he was exposed to someone with the coronavirus.

  • COVID-19 Hospitalizations Drop in New York, While Vaccinations Climb

    NEW YORK NOW - More than half of eligible adults in New York have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and hospitalizations from the virus dropped to their lowest point since the start of December, Gov. Cuomo said Thursday. Hospitalizations, in particular, had plateaued in recent weeks, with the hope that higher vaccination rates would lead to fewer patients requiring treatment for the virus.

  • A view of the Greenidge Generation plant with steam billowing from one of two cooling towers
    Torrey Board To Consider Greenidge Cryptocurrency Plan Monday

    Updated: 4/16/21 – 2:15 P.M. ENDWELL, NY (WSKG) — The fate of Greenidge Generation’s plan to expand cryptocurrency mining operations at its power facility along Seneca Lake will be decided by the Town of Torrey Planning Board Monday. Environmental advocates have been pushing back against the proposal, which they allege will lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions by the plant and other detrimental impacts.

  • Binghamton Advocates Push Parole Reform, Thank Lupardo For Support

    BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) — Advocates in Binghamton gathered on Thursday to back parole reform legislation pushed by some lawmakers in Albany and ask for further changes to prevent re-incarceration. One of the bills garnering attention would expand parole eligibility to those who are 55 or older and serving long sentences.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...

About WSKG

WSKG connects you to local and global news and the arts online, on the radio, and on TV. NPR and PBS affiliate.

Contact Us

email: WSKGcomment@wskg.org

phone: 607.729.0100

address: 601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY 13850

DONATE

Pay an underwriting invoice

  • WSKG
  • Arts
  • Education
  • Science
  • News
  • Your Radio
  • Schedule
  • TV
  • About
  • WSKG Staff
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Public Reports & Policies
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
  • Protect My Public Media
FCC PUBLIC FILES
WSKG-FM
WSQX-FM
WSQG-FM
WSQE
WSQA
WSQC-FM
WSQN
WSKG-TV
WSKA
Disabled and need assistance with the online FCC public file?
Contact Gregory Keeler
WSKG
601 Gates Road
Vestal, New York 13850
607-729-0100
gkeeler@wskg.org

Stay Connected

Like Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on YouTubeFollow Us on InstagramSubscribe via RSS

© Copyright 2021, WSKG

Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Back to top ↑

Change Location
To find awesome listings near you!