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Strategies for Students and Educators to Confront Bullying

Educators need specialized training in emotional intelligence to effectively address bullying rather than simply punishing the behavior

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By Mike Matranga · Arming TeachersEmotional IntelligenceSchool SafetySituational Awareness
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Key takeaways

01

Emotional intelligence is crucial for teachers in handling bullying.

02

Teachers need specialized training for situational awareness and self-defense.

03

There are significant challenges and risks in arming teachers with firearms.

In a thought-provoking episode of SecurED, hosted by Mike Matranga, CEO of M6 Global Defense, and featuring guest Joe Morris, owner of Condition 1 Combat Center, the conversation takes an important turn to how to confront bullying. While discussing school safety, the focus shifts from students to teachers and the critical need for emotional intelligence and specialized training for educators.

Equipping Teachers with Emotional Intelligence

The discussion highlights the significance of emotional intelligence not only for students but also for teachers and parents. Joe Morris emphasizes the importance of recognizing and managing emotions in various scenarios, including dealing with students, parents, and even potential threats. Emotional intelligence can play a crucial role in maintaining a safe and conducive learning environment.

Emotional intelligence can play a crucial role in maintaining a safe and conducive learning environment.

Training for Teachers: A Holistic Approach

Condition 1 Combat Center has previously offered free training programs for teachers, emphasizing the importance of situational awareness and self-defense. The conversation explores how early identification of potential issues and providing teachers with tools for situational awareness can enhance their safety and effectiveness in the classroom.

Why Teachers Shouldn't Carry Guns

One of the most contentious topics in school safety discussions is whether teachers should carry firearms. Joe Morris expresses his reservations about this approach, highlighting the need for extensive training when handling deadly weapons. The potential risks of untrained individuals attempting to use firearms in high-stress situations are discussed in detail.

The need for extensive training when handling deadly weapons is critical when considering whether teachers should carry firearms.

Securing Weapons in Schools

The conversation delves into the challenges of securing firearms within school premises. Questions are raised about the practicality of keeping weapons on teachers' hips and the potential risks associated with students gaining access to these firearms.

Conclusion

This episode of SecurED underscores the importance of emotional intelligence and specialized training for teachers in maintaining a safe and productive learning environment. It encourages a holistic approach to school safety, focusing on early intervention and situational awareness while addressing the complexities surrounding the idea of arming educators.

Video TranscriptExpand ↓

Well, let's let's switch gears a little bit. So we talk about you know, preparing the kids both physically and emotionally through this bullying program that you guys have. I think that the same thing could be taught to teachers. Right? I'm a big proponent in emotional intelligence, not just for students, but for teachers and for parents. You know, knowing how to deal with certain scenarios or circumstances, how to handle them, how to when to show emotion, when not to show emotion because they can have negative and adverse reactions. So is there some is there some training that you guys could offer to not only the kids, but to teachers. Yes. We we've offered teacher training before, free of cost when we did the active shooter event. I think you were you were a part of that too. Yes. And we will be putting more more programs together for teachers and educators and school staff in general. Because what I think if you we've recently looked at some videos, right, of teachers being assaulted at school, not only by, parents or by students as well. Right? And everybody has inherent right to defend themselves. Right? So I think that the earlier you can identify those problems and teach those teachers or or train those teachers in some, situational awareness, you know, that I think that they will be even safer on the job as well. Well, you know, situational awareness, emotional intelligence, you know, where to put your body, when to put your body, nonverbal communications that someone's exhibiting, of pre attack behaviors, all of those things and it doesn't just go to, you know, or it doesn't just apply to to teachers. I think that people in general need to have that. You know, a situationally aware individual is a cautious individual. People will say, well, maybe that that person is is, you know, experiencing some type of paranoia or, you know, they're worried about something happening that may or may not happen, but In the end of the day, what we're not trying to do is teach paranoia. We're trying to teach people to just be consciously aware of their surroundings of nonverbal ver verbal communications that could lead or escalate and then teach them those emotional intelligence tactics and techniques or procedures on how to deescalate. You know, I absolutely think that, you know, what you guys are doing at condition one is important. You know, for not only the teacher or not only the students, but for the teachers, you know, one of the things that you talked about earlier that we've done together is a weapons retention class. Okay? You and I both know with my background, former, presidential counter assault team operator and law and, you know, federal agent and then you being a former marine, we know that people carrying weapons think that that just taking an eight hour course is enough. You know, one of the common themes that we always hear after, you know, any type of tragic event in a school or shopping mall, or any public area, is or let's just go back to schools. But schools is that, you know, teachers need to be carrying guns. What are your thoughts on that? I am not for teachers carrying guns. Okay? I think if you're gonna carry a firearm, especially around a bunch of kids, you need to have you need to be well trained for that. Okay? It it it now you're handing a, you know, you're handing over a weapon, a deadly weapon to somebody who has not properly trained in it, never been in a kinetic environment before. Right? And the last thing you want is a sixty year old English lit teacher dumping a magazine into a room full of kids because they're under stress. Know, whenever that amygdala take over occurs and you have that adrenaline dump, you're gonna lose IQ points there. That's that's a fact. Okay? And it's gonna be very hard to discern under that kind of stress, you know, where you need to put accurate fire and things of that nature. Plus that same English lit teacher, and I don't mean that's a general statement. Right? I don't wanna say English English teachers are weaker. That's not what I mean at all. Not what I'm trying to say. But I do I do I do think that you have to have proper training to be able to carry that weapon. So eighteen year old kid in school. Right? He decides that he wants that weapon. Is that teacher gonna be able to keep him from getting that weapon? How is that weapon gonna be secured in a classroom? Are they gonna keep it on their hip? What happens when he goes in to turn in his paper and he's within three feet over or him and decides to take that weapon? You know, that that's that's the big misconception about carrying weapons. People don't understand it. You just don't pull it out and it goes pow and things stop.

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MM
Mike Matranga

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About the Experts

MM
Mike Matranga

CEO of M6 Global Defense

Mike Matranga is the CEO of M6 Global Defense. He specializes in school safety and emotional intelligence training for educators. His work focuses on implementing comprehensive security solutions in educational settings.

JM
Joe Morris

Owner

Condition 1 Combat Center

Joe Morris is the owner of Condition 1 Combat Center. He is an expert in situational awareness and self-defense training for educators. His initiatives focus on providing free training programs that enhance school safety.