We all can agree we want safe and welcoming schools.
The problem is these two goals can at times be at cross
purposes. In the aftermath of recent school shootings it
is very tempting to react with extreme measures to make
schools safer. Measures such as installation of metal detectors,
security guards or buzzer-activated doors are being considered
or used in schools across the country. However, responding
to the school safety issue with excessive solutions comes
at a cost, both financially and emotionally. The problem
is determining what is reasonable and what is extraordinary.
William Modzeleski is a U.S. Department of Education researcher
and the director of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program.
He is not convinced extreme measures are a cure to the school
violence problem. His contention is they can help in some
schools, but they can also send “a wrong message and
have an adverse effect on the climate of the school.”(MSNBS.com)
He also contends that such strong interventions can provide
a false sense of security. This can have dire consequences
when a perpetrator figures out ways around the security devises.
For example, the school shooting that happened two years
ago in Red Lake, Minnesota, took place in a school that had
a security guard. The shooter killed the guard before going
on his school rampage. Also if a perpetrator is a student,
many of the security mechanisms that schools would have in
place would be meaningless. Most security devises are geared
toward stopping an outside intruder and not a student from
within.
As to the school climate issue: Do we want our buildings
to promote a warm and welcoming environment or the aura of
a highly controlled institution? This question is actually
a tough one to answer. The correct response probably is to
find a middle ground which maintains the positive atmosphere
of our buildings while also creating a safe place for youth.
Another fact needs to be remembered: schools actually are
safer in the 2000s than they were in the 1990s. Fewer school
fatalities have taken place per year in the 2000s than took
place per year in the 1990s. The average deaths per year
in 1990s was twice as high as the per year average in the
2000s. Also more than twice as many violent crimes are committed
against young people outside of school as happen in school.
Related to this, if a person wants to commit a crazy act
anywhere in our society, whether in a school, shopping mall,
or fast-food restaurant, there are limits to what we can
do to prevent this from occurring. This is especially true
if the criminal has no regard for his own life.
Does this mean we do nothing in response to the acts that
were recently committed? The answer clearly is no. Our schools,
like schools in almost all communities, have safety plans
in place. They review these plans regularly with their staffs.
Our schools also do safety drills during the school year
to make sure that everyone knows their responsibilities in
a crisis situation.
Likewise, the district has a safety committee that meets
on a regular basis. This committee includes law enforcement.
The city law enforcement partners with our school administration
and recommends changes in schools to make them more safe
and secure. Law enforcement and the safety committee attend
training to learn about best practices in school safety.
They then help the district implement these practices.
Our administrative team already is considering plans to make
our schools safer. An important part of this heightened awareness
is to make sure that all staff play an active role in monitoring
the buildings. Another area of building safety is to maintain
high vigilance about possible threats or rumors of threats.
Such information must be taken very seriously. The old adage, “better
safe than sorry,” is the principle that guides the actions
of our school staff in these areas.
Parents and community members are also important pieces in
the security puzzle. Whenever they visit CPS schools they
are asked to sign in at the office and wear visitor badges.
Their cooperation helps make schools safe places for students.
Maintaining secure schools is an extremely important goal
of the Columbus Public Schools. Measures are being taken
to evaluate our current safety procedures and make any changes
that are found to be necessary. As proposed changes are evaluated
for their implementation, an important factor will be their
overall effect on school climate and well-being. Making this
determination is a real balancing act as we try to make our
schools both safe and secure while maintaining warm and friendly
school environments. We welcome any ideas you might have
to help us accomplish these goals for our schools.
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