North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson on March 1 asked educators across the state to email him their views on firearms in the classroom.

Tyrrell Superintendent Dr. Will Hoffman immediately forwarded the message to the county board of education and all TCS staff members, without comment.

Johnson stated in his message, “I believe teachers already have enough to do without adding the massive responsibility of having firearms in the classroom. But we want to know what you think about the issue, so the NC Educators Perspective Survey this month is about firearms in classrooms.”

He expanded on the theme in a linked video.

The deaths of 17 students and faculty members in a Parkland, Fla., public school has sparked the latest debate on ways and means of ending school violence.

Some advocate arming teachers. Tyrrell Schools has applied for a grant to fund a second school resource officer.

Columbia High and Middle schools are on a campus beside Main Street. Tyrrell Elementary School (K-5) is a mile away on Elementary School Road.