I agree with proper teaching of firearms safety, handling, care and so on. My Son is now 14, he's been shooting a Ruger 10/22 for many years now, of course only under my supervision. I taught him the proper and safe ways to handle, carry, shoot, load, clean, and enjoy firearms. He also has a healthy respect for them as well.
Even so, all our firearms are under lock and key with myself and my wife being the only ones with access to them.
He's had the enjoyment of shooting many .22 rifles, a 38 special revolver, and the XD-45 and loves every chance we get to go to the range.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P983Jq_KlxM
Please note that in the video my Son is wearing ear AND eye protection (polycarbonate safety goggles) and we had fired it together many times before I let him try it alone. I loaded only one round for safety sake, you can clearly see the slide lock back after it fires.
I can tell you that there is and will never be a day that I will worry about him taking a gun to school, he just doesn't have access to one and if he did (which he will never while I am around) he would leave it alone.
Education is the key.