Is Your School Secure ?

Is your school safe?

A number of years ago I was invited back to my high school alma mater  in Philadelphia to participate in the alumni Career Day Program, an event that is held annually on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.  Having not been there since 1966, I was shocked to see metal detectors and scanning devices at the front door. All of the students were required to  were ID cards. This was a high school noted for its academic prowess and long standing history of being one of the best public high schools in the country.  In fact I was a hall monitor for several semesters and during my tenure I never needed to report a fight or report an incident to the school principal.

The incidents at Columbine High School in Colorado where thirteen individuals were killed and at Heath High School in Paducah, Kentucky where three students were murdered created a major paradigm shift in school security.  After all, schools  were regarded  as safe places- a place where students were in a nurturing environment  with  teachers who cared about them, where they could get a hot meal at lunchtime ( sometimes even breakfast) and a school nurse to tend to their medical and health needs. IN a quick reaction to these shootings many schools resorted to installing metal detectors and security cameras. Some banned backpacks.  Schools required all students and faculty to carry ID cards. Periodic lockdown drills became often as frequent as fire drills.  Many school districts took advantage of state and federal funding for a school resources officer program. Police officers have been placed in schools as one of the staff, their salaries shared by the community and school district. These officers often are involved in conflict resolution and drug abuse discussions as well as dealing with security issues.

IS your school doing everything it can to keep you and your students safe?  Here is a brief checklist to see if you school meets the security safety grade.

·         Has your school conducted a school security audit?

·         Has your counseling staff been trained to identify students with anger issues and how to deal with grief should a tragedy occur?

·         Does your school work with local police to enhance school safety?

·         Has your school encouraged parent advisory committees to discuss ways to improve school security?

·         Have student and staff been taught to “be alert” for anything unusual?

A 2008 Secret Service report found that in more than 80 percent of instances of school violence, at least one person, usually a fellow student or peer, had knowledge of the attackers' plans. If people who suspect a problem feel comfortable enough in school to tell a teacher or a principal, then attacks could be prevented.

While even the most security conscious school has incidents, the more aware and proactive a school is, the less chance there is for a security breech.

As always your comments, ideas and links to other relevant sites are welcome.