Craver Middle School, Colorado City, CO March 14-17, 2016

[Prone to Knit]

This was our third year at Craver Middle School; the community and parents continue to support this curriculum. The school runs an "intensives" week. The students this year had about 7 choices for their intensive. This class, the most popular, turns away students each year. The parents must opt their child into the class. This year we had 37 students in the classroom and 35 at the range.

The instructors involved were: Franktown_Kid (Rich), JustJax (Jax), MedicDan (Dan), ColoradoBoots (Elizabeth), Skinner (Danny), topcat (Tom), Colorado Pete (Pete), oneshot_onehole (Jim), and Prone to Knit (Kim).

We told our three strikes and a number of dangerous-old-people stories. Jax got us to the green and asked, "How did we get here?" Rich picked up with the history of the grievances that drove us to this day. Jim did the second strike and Jax did the third.

The kids heard about Sam Whittemore from Jax, Isaac and Hannah Davis from Rich, and David Lamson/Mother Batherick and Mammy Kate from Elizabeth.

Our two days in the classroom included hands-on activities to engage the students. They heard about the foods of the time and got to get their hands into making hardtack. Elizabeth also had some pre-made hardtack; it carries that name for a reason. Still, those kids gobbled it up.

They heard about medical care of that time and got to do an "amputation," sawing through a pork shank while a child lay on the table, gently "held down" by his classmates, moaning in agony.

They learned of the flags and their symbolism from Jax and were able to create their own flags representing what's important in their lives.

They learned that kids were often tasked with the job of making cartridges and were then able to make cartridges with wax bullets they poured and coffee grounds (for powder). Some of us wore historic costumes.

We brought guns into the classroom, both historical and modern, which are permitted for educational purposes. No ammo was brought into the room.

Rich ran through a description of the firearms. Gun safety was discussed repeatedly. For a short period of time they were allowed to handle the guns, which were then cased and put away. The student had to ask to see one. The instructors handed the firearm to the student, showing them it was clear and the student had to check it. They then took it from us and demonstrated that their finger was off the trigger.  They were allowed to dry fire after asking permission to do so, all while we stood right over them and the muzzles were in a safe direction. They then handed the firearm back to us and we opened the action and confirmed together that it was clear before laying it back on the table. They were taught that they should never handle a firearm unless an adult demonstrates it is clear before handing it to them and that the muzzle always stays in a safe direction, even if unloaded.

On Wednesday, the students headed to the range. We want to say a great big thank you for the continuing support of Avondale Clays & Gun Club. They have hosted this event for 3 years, waiving all range fees. http://www.avondalegunclub.com/

At the range, the safety rules were discussed over and over. You would have been proud to see how these kids took to those rules. We had a large number of instructors and volunteers on top of the kids, almost a 2:1 ratio, and had donations of ammo from the community. Some of the volunteers have been with us all 3 years.

One of the volunteers brought out a Barrett 50 cal. Students were able to shoot that, a Garand, and an AR-15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fodcVjgPv1A&sns=em

We went over the prone position, six steps to firing a shot, sling usage and natural point of aim. At the range Danny told the Hezekiah Wyman and Timothy Murphy stories, Jim did Robert Shurtleff/Deborah Samson and Elizabeth Zane. Pete talked some about competitive shooting (his forte).

Are the kids "getting" the history? The teacher, Tim Baird, handed out assessments for the students to fill out. Every single student had something positive to say about the history. I'll save some of those quotes for our newsletter but Tim Baird had this to say:

"Bottom line:  Jim and Kim and all their associates are teaching our kids the history they need to be learning.  They are helping also to teach basic marksmanship skills and firearms safety.  They are teaching our kids about the principles this nation was built upon.  The personalities and character traits of historical American founders and the tools in which they used in everyday life to ensure that they, their kids, and their grandkids for generations to come, all had the opportunity to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness regardless of their circumstance. 

The comments I receive from my students are all positive.  The intensive is always the most sought after at our school and we do have to limit the amount of returning kids that go through the program.  Mr. Oswald, the school's history teacher, tells me that after the intensive the kids seem more engaged and curious about our nation's history and how we got to the point we are.  The kids ask questions when they would normally just sleep through class and even challenge ideas… in short, they now CARE and ask the all-important question, ‘Why?'"

How cool is that?

How can you get this into your school?  Again, from Tim Baird:

"How can other schools get on board?  Well, parents in those districts should share this story with their teachers and admin.  This program can be done in a safe manner.  Start a dialogue between parents and schools.  Go to the school board meetings and be a calm voice.  See if they would be open to inserting a few days into their schedule for an intensive week.  We (schools) insert all these other dates for testing both statewide and nationally.  We insert times for inane field trips. If other schools could incorporate the Appleseed intensive, it would help with team building, discipline, and school spirit.  This program helps create a family atmosphere in our school, which leads to less disruptions and fights, better attitudes, better grades, etc.   Let me repeat that.  This program has gotten kids interested in school and leads to better grades."

Appleseed: Shaping the next generation! 

Elizabeth is our media guru and was able to get Channel 5 to the classroom and the range. KOAA 5 broke the story. The story behind the funny spelling on Jim's name:  Lena Howland asked him to say his name and spell it so he said, "Jim Heath, i-t." Funny guy. He's quite proud of this. Just a note, Lena was told about our history, both by Jim and Rich, but that's not the story they ran with.

https://www.facebook.com/KOAA/posts/10154099507838939

The follow up at the range: https://www.facebook.com/KOAA/posts/10154102221388939


Elizabeth also did a couple interviews:
http://www.podcastgarden.com/episode/031416-one_73887 Eye on the Target Radio, minutes 27-41

http://stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=1551&c=7691&f=5326863   Jeff Crank, a Colorado host, minutes 43-52


Ted Nugent shared it on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/tednugent/posts/10153562783472297

NBC, look at the views: 5,294,920 and climbing
https://www.facebook.com/nbcnightlynews/videos/10154101102893689/?fref=nf

Active Self Protection:
https://www.facebook.com/ActiveSelfProtection/posts/938675262906921

One of our Colorado senators:
https://www.facebook.com/timnevilleforsenate/posts/1027349973996347

Breitbart (not our picture):
https://www.facebook.com/Breitbart/posts/10156890504985354

Another piece by NBC, 3,802,226 views:
https://www.facebook.com/NBCNews/videos/1336412386378788/

Nashville, Channel 4:
https://www.facebook.com/WSMVTV/photos/a.96267001714.91395.94568081714/10153645869526715/?type=3&theater

The Truth About Guns:
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2016/03/daniel-zimmerman/omg-kids-learning-gun-safety-school-omg/

Guns America:
https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/middle-school-gun-training-appleseed/

The MMA Community:
http://themmacommunity.com/threads/colorado-middle-school-teaches-gun-safety.14743/

The Discussionist
http://www.discussionist.com/1015772342

WTHR Indiana:
https://www.facebook.com/WTHR13/posts/10153722872691144

WSMV Nashville:
https://www.facebook.com/WSMVTV/photos/a.96267001714.91395.94568081714/10153645869526715/?type=3&comment_id=1524217097873725

KDVR Fox 31, Denver:
https://www.facebook.com/fox31denver/posts/10154065360751600

WILX News 10, Michigan:
https://www.facebook.com/wilxnews10/posts/1059280897448719

Truth Uncensored:
http://truthuncensored.net/guns-come-to-co-middle-school-in-the-name-of-safety/

Michael D. Brown, a local talk-show host:
https://www.facebook.com/michael.d.brown/posts/1173167469382990

AZFamily 3, Arizona:
http://www.azfamily.com/story/31497063/students-shoot-guns-in-co-school-safety-program

Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/article/middle-school-teaches-students-about-guns-with-hands-on-training

https://www.facebook.com/Examinercom/posts/10153598497183983


NBC2, Florida:
https://www.facebook.com/NBC2News/posts/10153611764116225

KFOR, Oklahoma:
https://www.facebook.com/kfor4/posts/10153493876151636

http://americanlibertypac.com/2016/03/project-appleseed-teaches-students-gun-safety/

http://www.guns.com/2016/03/17/guns-come-to-co-middle-school-in-the-name-of-safety/

http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/NRA-brings-guns-to-school-372252201.html

http://www.rawdogtactical.com/blog/guns-come-to-co-middle-school-in-the-name-of-safety-video/

http://www.glockforum.net/forum/off-topic-discussion/12906-craver-middle-school-students-trade-classroom-gun-range.html

http://www.myhighplains.com/news/nra-brings-guns-to-school

http://www.wect.com/story/31497063/students-shoot-guns-in-co-school-safety-program

http://www.kltv.com/story/31497063/students-shoot-guns-in-co-school-safety-program#.VvHdNsmIKok.email


On the Facebook posts noted above, there were 130,840 reactions with less than 1% being negative (gone are the days of saying "likes"). There were 167,905 shares and 11,065 comments, over 95% positive. There is no way to tally what happened with all the shares and how many people were reached. I have e-mailed Lena of KOAA to see if she can tell me how many views each of her two articles generated.


A negative page, based off the old New York Times article.
http://coloradopols.com/diary/81672/militia-class-at-pueblo-county-middle-school#sthash.Wk3rcVit.dpbs

A negative page:
https://www.romper.com/p/a-colorado-middle-school-is-bringing-guns-to-class-teaching-kids-how-to-use-them-7385

Thanks, New Hampshire Appleseed, for the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEniQns9P5g

https://www.uslawshield.com/planting-seeds-of-guns-safety-and-history-for-colorado/

http://thethinkingwoodsman.com/2016/06/01/thinking-woodsman-episode-5/   Just after the 13-minute mark.


As new media articles are found, I will update this post and I will add the ones you find.

[Prone to Knit]

Some photos. All the pictures other than the group picture and students with their presentations are from Tim Baird. Thanks, Tim, for your photos.

[Prone to Knit]

More.

[Prone to Knit]

More.

[Prone to Knit]

The last photos.

[BeSwift]

Wow.. I'm frankly dumbfounded by the success, planning, and commitment to pull this off. 
I'm going to vote to double everyone's salary at our next meeting

Outstanding work, ALL! You done us proud....    BeSwift

[hogfamily]

HUZZAH!

[scuzzy]

Amazing! Absolutely amazing. Kudos to all you guys.

[FourFans]

Truly AWESOME. The level of planning, the behind the scenes legwork, etc etc . Unreal determination. My hat is off. Sadly Colorado has become a "could go either way" state. What an awesome job of fighting back. HUZZAH.
-respect
  --FF