As the result of the many school shootings and hostage situations that have plagued our news media over the last decade, many discussions by officials have centered on the possibility of arming teachers for self-defense. But, what about self-defense for students? If a criminal knows beforehand that the only person armed with a self-defense weapon is the teacher, it’s highly likely that his first target upon entering the scene would be the teacher in order to incapacitate the only person in the room who is able to put up a fight. That only leaves the students more vulnerable and increasingly susceptible to more of the assailant’s wrath.

Self-defense experts, suggest that at least one solution might be to incorporate a week or more of self-defense training in the school’s yearly physical education curriculum. Being properly trained in self-defense tactics would allow students more freedom and safety, even if school shootings weren’t a problem, since the very basis for all self-defense training is a greater awareness of one’s surroundings. Some citizens, however, are deeply offended by the very idea that educators and students should engage in active resistance, and believe that they should be taught that active resistance of an attacker carries outrageous and unacceptable risk.

Nevertheless, in an age when pacifism is being pushed heavily in American schools, isn’t it important that we allow those who choose to actively resist an attack the proper tools to do so? Training students in basic self-defense and allowing them the right to carry a concealed, non-lethal self-defense tool such as pepper spray would keep everyone a lot safer and allow for restoration of a peaceful learning atmosphere for all.