Elementary school teachers' involvement in firearm safety education

Area of Science:

• Education
• Public Health
• Child Safety

Background:

• Firearm safety education is crucial for preventing unintentional injuries in children.
• Limited research exists on elementary school teachers' current practices and perceptions regarding firearm safety instruction.
• Understanding teacher readiness and perceived barriers is essential for developing effective safety programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess elementary school teachers' firearm safety education activities.
• To evaluate teachers' perceptions of their preparedness and the importance of firearm safety education.
• To identify barriers hindering the implementation of firearm safety education in elementary schools.

Main Methods:

• A national survey was conducted using a 3-wave mailing approach.
• The study included 352 elementary school teachers.
• Data collected focused on training, self-efficacy, current teaching practices, perceived importance, and barriers to firearm safety education.

Main Results:

• Only 1% of teachers reported receiving undergraduate firearm safety training.
• Despite limited training, 12% felt well-prepared, and most reported high self-efficacy and perceived importance of the topic.
• Key barriers identified were lack of expertise (66%), uncertainty about content (58%), and insufficient curriculum time (54%).
• Ten percent of teachers currently teach firearm safety, and 35% desire further information.

Conclusions:

• A significant gap exists between elementary school teachers' perceived importance of firearm safety education and their formal training.
• Teachers' high self-efficacy suggests a willingness to teach, but practical barriers impede widespread implementation.
• Targeted professional development and curriculum resources are needed to support teachers in delivering effective firearm safety education.