Junior and Smallbore > Salem Middle School "Day at the Range"

Salem Middle School “Day at the Range”

By Sherry White

Pictured above are some of the instructors that assisted in this years “Day at the Range”.  Front row (L to R) are; Sherry White, Officer Brandon White, Retired Indiana Law Enforcement Academy instructor Joe Rupe, Todd Combs, J. R. Terrell and Dan White.  Back row (L to R) are SSG Steve Sabens, Chief of Police Scott Ratts, Officer Tim Miller, Chris Cauble, Officer Chris Strange, Jim Tullis, Sheriff Claude Combs, Specialist Joe Hopper, Detective Brent Miller, Jarrin Dodds, Rick Main and Deputy Jimmy Strange.

Firearms and schools are two words that are not conducive to each other.  There was a time when a student was allowed to have a firearm in their vehicle at school because a hunting trip was planned at the end of their day.

I was fortunate to have parents that taught and encouraged me to shoot.  I was a member of the skeet and trap team in college.  I kept my shotgun in my dorm room.  That was acceptable then.  How sad that the majority have to change because of the actions of a few.

From (L to R) are Asst. Superintendent Dr. Kim Thurston, Salem Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Lynn Reed, Transportation Director John King, Sherry White and Salem Middle School Principle Ray Oppel.

Hello, I am Sherry White.  I have taught Physical Education and Swimming at Salem Middle School for the last 34 years.  What a wonderful place.  SMS is more than a school; it is a home for a large family.  The faculty and staff are encouraged to work outside the "box".  I would like to think my swimming and physical education program is extremely atypical for the students.  One program I am very proud of is the two week Home Firearm Safety Course that is taught during the 8th grade PE class.  Over the last 27 years, approximately 4500 students have taken the course.  Students that make 90% or better on the final exam experience a field trip to a local shooting range.  This spring, 74 students spent the day practicing safe handling of many different types of firearms and safeties.  The students fire a variety of firearms...pellet, .22, 9mm, .357, .45, .223, .308, 20ga. and 12ga.  This special day is the culmination of the backing of the Superintendent Dr. Lynn Reed, SMS principal Ray Oppel, police officers and the many volunteers that help.  The students are coached one-on-one by officers from the Salem Police Department, Washington County Sheriff's Department, State Police, National Guard, retired Master Instructor from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, instructors from the local Friends of the NRA Falls of the Ohio Chapter, Bass Pro Shop, county instructors and parents.  This special day could not happen without the help of this group of instructors and the funding from the Friends of NRA.



Over half of the instructors this year were former students of the SMS program.  There were students whose parents had participated in the program when they were eighth graders.

How can the value of this course be measured?  It is intangible.

Instructor Joe Rupe (left) is teaching the fundamentals of sight alignment to Brandi.

The number of lives that have been affected and saved by this program will never be known.  The value and worth of this program is evident by the positive response and feedback that is received each year by the participants and parents.

These comments were from two first time shooters that spent the day at the range:
Matthew, age 14.  "My experience at the range was exciting.  Everything ran smooth and the instructors were very experienced.  I hit some of the bull’s-eyes and cracked up a couple clays with the 12 gauge.  I felt very safe, the instructors were nice.  They helped you with every aspect of the gun to make sure you knew about it.  The range was a life-changing place.  I intend to go back this summer."

"I am Kelli and I am an 8th grader at Salem Middle School.  I really enjoyed going to the shooting range.  I had never shot before and I was a little afraid of firearms but when I started shooting, I found it to be a wonderful experience.  It was a lot of fun especially when I out shot the boys.  I plan to continue shooting as a hobby.  I hope to go again soon!”