And If We Put Bulletproof Textbooks In Bulletproof Backpacks, Then Think How Safe We'll All Be
from the educational-body-armor dept
About a year ago we had the story of a candidate for state school superintendent in Oklahoma who was advocating that textbooks be made with bulletproof covers as a method of protecting students in the exceptionally unlikely event of a school shooting. This seemed like a bizarre idea, especially when you weigh out the costs vs. the likelihood of any such event (and the actual protective ability of a bulletproof textbook). Of course, it appears that others have been thinking along the same lines, as one manufacturer is now selling bulletproof backpacks for your kids as they head back to school. Assuming you're worried that your kid goes to school in a warzone, feel free to pick one up -- but just imagine the protective power of one of those backpacks stuffed with bulletproof books?






Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
let's chant!
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
English
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: English
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
$$$?
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
hmmm, how well does this bag stop a .22 vs a 50 ??
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
and then...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
and yet...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: and yet...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: and yet...
No real need for a 7 year old kid to carry around a 5 pound (2+ kilo) notebook, so many schools banned them.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: and yet...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
A whole new generation of hunchbacks
On the bright side, the USA will be able to mass produce Kevlar (hence cheaper) bulletproofing, but then again so will erm "dissidents".
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Funny
-Pavel
It's good thing you know a lot about money. The government isn't wasting money on this, some private company is.
Yeah, same with my old school district too, k0. Students weren't allowed to carry bags around unless they had an injury where they needed crutches or a wheelchair.
Even if the textbooks were bulletproof, they won't protect your entire body if you hold it in front of you... it's a silly idea. Same with bulletproof backpacks.
"the GTA will be sued for influencing the easily warped minds of teenagers with guns and violence."
-Harry
You know that has already been tried, right? Look up Jack Thompson.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Funny !wrong!
The government IS wasting my money because the government IS the one spending the money.
The government IS the one that decides to waste the money on bulletproof items.
The government IS the one that forgot that it is about education not daycare.
The government IS the one wasting the money.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Funny !wrong!
But they decided against it, and these backpacks are being sold, not issued.
Not saying that the government doesnt wast money, just try to complain about how they actually wast money.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Funny !wrong!
"The government IS the one that forgot that it is about education not daycare."
Having worked tech in a school, it isn't the schools that have forgotten this it is the parents. I can't count the number of times parent had lawyers in the school I worked at over grades, suspensions, etc. Parents need to back off and let schools run unless there is a issue that needs addressing.
I will not automatically side with my son against the teacher, I need to hear the whole story and judge from there. Then again, I hope to never have to judge because he behaves and listens anyway.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Um. Yeah. Nice going there, ace.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
I got it....
Might draw poor attendance to higher math classes though.
"Differential Equations ... RUN!"
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I would rather just carry a gun
I know.../flamebait but it has some plus sides.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Considering the sanity of those who shoot up schools, it probably wouldn't make the slightest difference to them.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
But we can keep going with the other approach of, "This is a gun-free zone. If you want to attack without encountering trouble, attack here --->" So far it's worked incredibly well.
But hey... we have bullet-proof backpacks now. So our kids can hold their backpacks in front of them as they're totally defenseless and waiting to die.
What a wonderful idea. I'll take 2 please!
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
IMHO, a two part answer. First, people who believe that they have something to lose rarely act violently. Build the middle class and work to reduce despair from poverty. Second, realize that no one is ever completely safe, don't go to insane lengths to try and create perfect safety.
Bulletproof backpacks are pretty far over the edge, unless you truly send your kids to school in an active war zone.
PS -- I believe in both forms of gun control: nuts, kids, and criminals should not have firearms; and those who do have them learn to shoot straight.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
"Think of all the weight IF eventually all kids start carrying bulletproof backpacks with books with bulletproof textbooks. We will spawn a whole new generation on hunchbacks..."
In case you don't know, most junior high students have backpacks well over 20 pounds.
Walk into a middle school and you'll see backpacks twice the size of the kid slugging it around.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Heavy Backpacks
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Well done, bulletproof bag making company. Well done.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Remember the Spartans
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Remember the Spartans
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Hehe, mayhem
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Any little punk who brings a firearm to school, brandishes it, or uses it - is charged, like an adult and goes to adult prison for the maximum term.
Perhaps real punishment for crimes like this would make a difference?
But also:
Dude - if having a gun made people safe, then Baghdad would be the safest place on earth, followed by Mogadishu.
There were more murders in LA last year than US servicemen that died.
Now, I'll hear 'what about Iraqi's!!!'
Umm, that's just *one* city.
Not that I'm for ol' globalist-elite-faux-cowboy Bush's little power war, but still... just keeping things in perspective.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
This will come back to bite them
-Jon
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
No need for all this.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
You know it's coming
WE MUST PROTECT THE CHILDREN!
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Add Your Comment