In response to President Donald Trump’s “idea” of arming a few teachers in each school with a weapon to protect students and to also give bonus money to those teachers: I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

A teacher is an advocate of getting along, not being a bully, and for students to learn each year those “subjects” in school that will create a thoughtful person who will want to go off to college or to make a difference in this world.

I retired recently from the Federal Way Public Schools. A student handed me a card she had created saying, “Mrs. Hawkins, I will remember you for teaching me art but also for being a teacher who taught peace.”

In my classroom was John Lennon’s quote: “Imagine all the people living life in peace … you can call me a dreamer, but I am not the only one…”

I was honored at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration assembly for having my Sacajawea art students participate in the peace poster contests every year for five years.

I could no more hold a gun and shoot someone than I could drink acid. And to get paid extra to do this —shoot a gun?

Mr. Trump is an ignorant man, out of touch with today’s common person, and I am ashamed — but so proud that people are going to now stand up against gun violence. I plan to march with the group who are anti-gun advocates. No one needs a gun! And yeah, violent video games and movies don’t help.

JoAnn Hawkins, Federal Way