New skills replacing the main objective in school

Tom Talerico, Morgantown
It certainly is a sad state of affairs when we start training public school employees in how to triage students.
A recent The Associated Press article(DP-April 10) indicated that nationally more than 125,000 teachers, counselors and administrators have been trained in reducing blood loss.
This definitely is a “sign of the times” that public education is changing. I guess the days of graduating with a degree in education where you proudly say that you majored in math with a minor in computer programming have been replaced with majors “packing wounds with gauze” and a double minor of “tourniquet tying” and “pistol marksmanship.”
This also probably means that past in-service training days dealing with the latest teaching techniques has been replaced with the best ways of sheltering in place.
Seriously, this does appear that like it or not, this is the direction that education is trending. This is where public education is and the slippery slope is only going to progress from here.
I have no problem with all school employees learning these skills and keeping them updated as long as they are not intended to replace the main objectives of schools. Let’s hope that these new and additional skills never have to be used.
And while trying to comprehend this development in public education let’s not forget that facilities are going to have to evolve also. Gone are the days of throwing a book bag over your shoulder and walking into school. Soon you will need to clear metal detector lines.
Four-foot-high fences around playgrounds will be replaced with 6-foot and 8-foot high fences, lobbies with trophy cases will disappear altogether and buildings that are aesthetically pleasing will resemble Fort Knox. Welcome to 21st century public education?