Channel 4 Explores Controversial Subject Of School Shootings In Training Teachers to Kill From Sundog Pictures
British broadcaster Channel 4 is heading to Butler County in Ohio as it looks at the controversial d..
British broadcaster Channel 4 is heading to Butler County in Ohio as it looks at the controversial debate as to whether teachers shouldnt be armed to prevent school gun attacks.
The network has ordered a one-off documentary Training Teachers to Kill that will explore the heated debate playing out in real time where school boards in America are seriously considering arming their teachers for the first time in order to protect their very vulnerable pupils.
The doc will be produced by Sundog Pictures, the British production company set up by Richard Bransons son Sam and Johnny Webb. It will be directed by My Babys Life: Who Decides and Doing Time director Kira Phillips.
Training Teachers to Kill will feature the local Sheriff, who is so passionate about arming teachers that he puts billboards up in town to persuade the community that he is right. Also included are alarming stories of those who have the first-hand terrifying experience of being under attack from a fellow pupil. As a direct consequence of these horrific incidents some local pupils, as young five, are now drilled in the art of how to survive in an attack.
On the other side and featured will be those who fervently disagree with this proposed idea including a boy who was shot, and his father who have both publicly forgiven the shooter. They dont believe the answer is for teachers to carry guns.
Sundog has gained access to FASTER, one of Americas most controversial summer schools where high school teachers are trained to use guns, deal with potential school shooting scenarios and if the situation demands it, kill. The film follows the summer course in the foothills of the Appalachians, where teachers undergo target practice. Here they are put through drills that simulate school shootings. This documentary will present both sides of the argument and consider who might win the battle of arming Americas teachers.
Katie Buchanan, Creative Director, Sundog Pictures, said, “After the Parkland School massacre in Florida, Trumps tweet that teachers should be armed made headlines around the world. His suggestion that teachers should be armed sent shockwaves. In reality there are actual training centres which focus on teaching high school teachers how to shoot in order to protect pupils in their school. We gained access to one of these to find out what was going on.”
Sundog Pictures CEO Johnny Webb added, “Telling stories that make a difference is what Sundog is all about. Training Teachers to Kill follows a line of high-profile, headline-hitting films looking at big issues, including Breaking The Taboo: The War On Drugs and #deathpenaltyfail, our innovative exploration into why the American death penalty system is not working. We are keen to continue to shine a light on the stand-out issues of our time and bring them to new audiences.”
