Comments on: Guns in Early Childhood Centres http://www.whataboutki.com/rants/guns-in-early-childhood-centres Everything you need to know about Ki. Sun, 03 Jul 2011 02:52:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tom O'Carroll http://www.whataboutki.com/rants/guns-in-early-childhood-centres/comment-page-1#comment-702 Tom O'Carroll Wed, 26 May 2010 05:42:55 +0000 http://www.whataboutki.com/?p=1111#comment-702 I agree about following children's interests. As a young boy I played war games, cowboys and indians, and more. We fashioned up guns out of anything we could find. My father did not believe in guns but was happy as long as we never pointed our guns at anyone's face. My experience in a centre has shown me that a no gun policy will not stop a disposition to explore guns in dramatic play. There is science, construction, drama, exploring the concept of death, not to mention physical play involved in guns. I have outgrown guns and have moved on to new interests. I am sure most of the young children we support will do the same I agree about following children’s interests.
As a young boy I played war games, cowboys and indians, and more. We fashioned up guns out of anything we could find. My father did not believe in guns but was happy as long as we never pointed our guns at anyone’s face.

My experience in a centre has shown me that a no gun policy will not stop a disposition to explore guns in dramatic play. There is science, construction, drama, exploring the concept of death, not to mention physical play involved in guns.

I have outgrown guns and have moved on to new interests. I am sure most of the young children we support will do the same

]]> By: jim kassiones http://www.whataboutki.com/rants/guns-in-early-childhood-centres/comment-page-1#comment-696 jim kassiones Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:30:00 +0000 http://www.whataboutki.com/?p=1111#comment-696 The kids,I believe, are interested in toy guns,not real guns. When I was in Grade 6 our class learned how to handle a rifle, how to check to see if it was loaded and while at a rifle range how to shoot a rifle. We were sufficiently mature enough to learn these lessons. I believe it was wise because a lot of our parents had rifles at home which we had the potential to come into contact with. I'm still glad I learned to safely handle a rifle. I don't know if you could properly teach a child how to safely check that a rifle is unloaded and safe to handle without using a real one for the instruction. The kids,I believe, are interested in toy guns,not real guns. When I was in Grade 6 our class learned how to handle a rifle, how to check to see if it was loaded and while at a rifle range how to shoot a rifle. We were sufficiently mature enough to learn these lessons. I believe it was wise because a lot of our parents had rifles at home which we had the potential to come into contact with.
I’m still glad I learned to safely handle a rifle. I don’t know if you could properly teach a child how to safely check that a rifle is unloaded and safe to handle without using a real one for the instruction.

]]> By: Barbara http://www.whataboutki.com/rants/guns-in-early-childhood-centres/comment-page-1#comment-666 Barbara Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:18:25 +0000 http://www.whataboutki.com/?p=1111#comment-666 Well, Ki, I believe your blog is very significant and you have valid thought and opinions. I must say, as an educator for more than ten years, I have always worked at child care centers where there is a no guns policy. No weapons period. That meant even if they made swords. The thing is is that as early educators, we have to think of the generalization of our children. What separates them from learning what is right from wrong at school and at home. We never know what is being taught at home about guns in general. Some parents have no problem with it and others may be totally against it. We don't want to offend the parents that are totally against weapons. And we also want to let the parents know that they are the primary teacher of their children in that aspect. Kind of like religion as well. Which is why a lot of day care centers either don't celebrate any holidays or celebrate them all. But what I want to focus on is the point you made about working with the children's interests. And you are so absolutely correct!!! This is something that educators tend to loose track of when it comes to sensitive issues like weapons. Of course if all the children were interested in dinosaurs, educators will go all out to create a extensive theme on dinosaurs and get extravagant... but not with weapons like guns. I could go on and on. Especially with this society and the views that it puts out there... For example, with police officers. Society tends to make it seems like police officers are bad and send a message to children that they are there to take you to jail if you're bad, and child care centers work so hard to change their mind set from society that police officers are good and are there to protect and serve. Which is very true... and what we should think about police officers regardless of what children see and hear... Guns and weapons are very taboo in the child care world. And educators have made it that way. There are many reasons why and why not. And we could go around in circles forever. I would say, that if it's the child's interest, especially if the curriculum you are using is child-centered, and it's ok by the parents, if I were a director of a center, I would allow a thematic unit on guns. I appreciate your feedback and will keep it in mind as I continue in my career in ECE. Thank you! Well, Ki, I believe your blog is very significant and you have valid thought and opinions. I must say, as an educator for more than ten years, I have always worked at child care centers where there is a no guns policy. No weapons period. That meant even if they made swords. The thing is is that as early educators, we have to think of the generalization of our children. What separates them from learning what is right from wrong at school and at home. We never know what is being taught at home about guns in general. Some parents have no problem with it and others may be totally against it. We don’t want to offend the parents that are totally against weapons. And we also want to let the parents know that they are the primary teacher of their children in that aspect. Kind of like religion as well. Which is why a lot of day care centers either don’t celebrate any holidays or celebrate them all.
But what I want to focus on is the point you made about working with the children’s interests. And you are so absolutely correct!!! This is something that educators tend to loose track of when it comes to sensitive issues like weapons. Of course if all the children were interested in dinosaurs, educators will go all out to create a extensive theme on dinosaurs and get extravagant… but not with weapons like guns. I could go on and on. Especially with this society and the views that it puts out there… For example, with police officers. Society tends to make it seems like police officers are bad and send a message to children that they are there to take you to jail if you’re bad, and child care centers work so hard to change their mind set from society that police officers are good and are there to protect and serve. Which is very true… and what we should think about police officers regardless of what children see and hear…
Guns and weapons are very taboo in the child care world. And educators have made it that way. There are many reasons why and why not. And we could go around in circles forever. I would say, that if it’s the child’s interest, especially if the curriculum you are using is child-centered, and it’s ok by the parents, if I were a director of a center, I would allow a thematic unit on guns.
I appreciate your feedback and will keep it in mind as I continue in my career in ECE. Thank you!

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