Metal Detectors

I've often thought that metal detectors would be a good idea to install in the building I work in. I've thought this prior to what has happened to me. The reality is that my building is a security nightmare. We have numerous entrances to the school including classrooms with their own outside entrances. In recent years administration has cracked down on the freedom to open classroom doors to the outside. Also, once school starts they lock all but two entrances for the public to use. One is monitored by an emplyee and requires a guest to sign in. The other requires a guest to ring a buzzer, state their business, and then be granted admitance by a school employee. Why not consider adding metal detectors?

I spoke to two of the boys that bowl in my junior league. They are high school boys in the area. They do not know anything about my situation. The police officer handling my report recommended that I should go to work on the weekend it happened. When I returned the following weekend I didn't feel comfortable telling my bowlers, who range in age from 9-17, what had happened. So, I told them something unexpected had come up, which is true. Earlier in the bowling season one of the boys told me his school had installed metal detectors this school year.

Remembering what the kid had told me, I struck up a casual conversation with he and his brother indivudally, though. They know, as does my entire league, that I'm back in school. I told the two of them that I was doing some research on school safety, which this is true. I asked them how they felt about their school putting in metal detectors and if it increased their sense of safety at school.

Although I spoke to them individually, they both reitereated the same sentiment. Both boys thought the metal detectors were an inconvenience. Apparantly, the school made the decision to close all but one entrance to the school. There have been lengthy line-ups to get into the building in the mornings. They complained about being an hour late to school because they were held up waiting for people to get through the metal detectors. I suggested they start out earlier in the morning, but that went over like a lead balloon.

I then asked the boys how safe they felt with metal detectors at their school. I was amazed that both of them said it made no difference in how safe they felt at school. I asked them why they felt that way. Both of them said, remember one was not present when I was talking to the other, that they have seen people sneak in weapons. I was absolutely shocked. What do you mean snuck in a weapon? How is that possible with the metal detectors? Isn't the whole point of a metal detector that it beeps when metal is detected?

I probed a little more. I asked the one boy what kind of weapon he saw being snuck in. The other one offered an explanation without being prompted. Both boys have witnessed fellow students sneaking knives into school. What!!?! So, I asked if it was a plastic knife. They told me no. Again, I asked them how the student got the knife in without the metal detector detecting it. They said you put it in your backpack. They explained to me, at least this is what I understand of it, that when your turn comes you put your bookbag on a tray. The kids step through the metal detector, and security does not look in backpacks. Once you're through the metal detector you pick up your belongings, and you're on your way. My initial thought was why doesn't the security team look through the bookbags. First, maybe they have to have propable cause to search a bookbag. I'm not really sure about the legality of the issue. Second, you can only imagine how crowded it is. This is a large high school that the boys attend, and the school is already experiencing hour long backups. I'm sure students are hearded as fast as possible through those metal detectors leaving security with very little time to conduct an adequate search of the bookbag.

I learned a lot in talking with these boys. I assume metal detectors come in a variety of styles. I also assume some are more sensitive then others. My first thought was that the boys' school did not have a very sensitive metal detector. When they told me that they do not wear their backpacks through the metal detectors nor does security search through their bookbags I was concerned. More importantly, I took away a sense of doubt as to whether metal detectors are the answer.

Clearly, there are ways of getting around metal detectors. Schools strapped for cash might not be able to afford quality metal detectors. What is the point of spending money on a cheap one that doesn't pick up on much of anything. Not to mention the amount of time required to get the student body through them. Long lines and lenghty wait time only serves to fuel frustration. If students use their bookbags to sneak in contraband, and those backpacks are not searched for whatever reason (legality, lack of manpower, respect of privacy, etc.), then what is the point of installing the metal detectors. I can see now that metal detectors are not a guarantee.

Preventing School Violence

I have done a lot of research on the internet revolving around school violence. The following are all preventative measures I've come across: safety plans sold by security companies, risk-reduction training of staff members, parent patrols, cameras and metal detectors, on campus police officers, pledges against gun violence, peer mediation, annonymous school violence tip hotlines, and perhaps the most controversial of all- arming teachers. Some of these I will look at in more detail in my future postings.

I happened to find a publication by the National Crime Prevention Council. You know, McGruff's Take a Bite out of Crime campaign. It was titled "A Dozen Things Teachers Can Do to Stop School Violence." Some suggestions were obvious, others were helpful. My overall impression was that much of it was very ideallic. There were some great suggestions made, but I'm sure how a teacher would be able implement them. I'd like to share an abbreviated version of the twleve suggestions with you. First, inform administration about any threats or gang activity. Second, do not tolerate violence in your classroom, and enlist students to create approapriate consequences for violent behavior. Third, openly communicate positive accomplishments as well any concerns you have with students' parents. Fourth, identify warning signs of imending violence and offer the child school approved avenues for getting help. Fifth, get students involved in preventing school violence. Sixth, volunteer to be on the committee that sets the schools safety plan. Seventh, carry out all school policies designed to keep students safe. Eighth, ensure students treat each other with respect. Ninth, teach with passion. Tenth, constantly teach and talk about conflict resolution. Eleventh, find ways to dialogue about violence by linking it to your subject matter. Lastly, convince students how important it is to speak up if they know about a threat. What are your thoughts about these tips?

These are some pretty concrete suggestions for preventing school violence. I was annoyed at how obvious some of them were: report threats to administration, don't allow violene in class, communicate with parents, carry out school rules, demand respect towards classmates, and encourage kids to report threats. Others, I though were too ideal. Convincing students to create student organizations and being the advisor takes time. Time that many of us simply do not have. It takes a lot of organization and man hours to pull off organization activities. Again, serving of the committee that creates the school safety plan is time consuming, especially if you are required to be at school board meetings. Teaching conflict resolution takes time away from the curriculum the state wants you to teach. I'm not saying this wouldn't be beneficial, but how do you cover state sponsored curriculum in addition to conflict resolution in a timely manner?
The suggestion to recognize warning signs of violence and offer the appropraite help was good. My thought was that it would require teacher training, which could easily be done at a professional development meeting or even at the start of school welcome back meeting. Every year my district goes over bloodborne pathogens. Why not review the warning signs of violent behavior as well as run down the services available to students. This would be a viable suggestion to implement.
There were two suggestions that I was not convinced would have impact on reducing school violence. How does teaching with passion reduce the threat of violence? I might think something is very interesting and teach in an intense, excited way; but the students still think it is the most boring concept in the world. I just experienced this talking about how the automobile revolutionized American society. I was all excited talking about it, and the kids looked at me like I had lost my mind. They lacked passion when they discussed the automobile despite my enthusiasm. I do not see a connection between passionate teaching and preventing school violence. Students finding something they are passionate about would make more sense to me. I also questioned how impactful discussing violence and violence prevention would be. I'm not convinced it would have the desired effect of reducing school violence. I subbed last year when the class was discussing school shootings for a book they were reading called Shooter. From what I remember, the students were not interested at all about the topic, which shocked me. Most of the classes agreed that nothing could be done to stop a school shooting once the perpetrator put his/her mind to it. They seem to think that nothing would stop a person determined to carry out such a violent act, not metal detectors, not trying to talk the person out of it, not police officers on campus. It was amazing and scary how close minded the kids were about discussing school violence. It was equally as scary hearing that they thought there was no way of preventing it. Again, I'm not diminishing the importance of talking to kids about violence and ways to prevent it. I'm just not sure how open students would be to discussing it. Therefore, I'm not sure the discussion would have the desired effect.
What do you think? Can a teacher prevent school violence? Can students prevent it?

School Safety Plan

How safe is the school you work in? Are you confident that in the case of an emergency your administration and security teams would be able to respond in a timely and effective manner? In doing research, I found an organization called National School Safety and Security Services that creates school safety plans. The comapny's website is www.schoolsecurity.org This company has been in the school safety planning business for over 25 years.

The National School Safety and Security Services strive to make schools safe from both weather related emergencies and/or school violence. A school district interested in these services would start with the assessment. According to the National School Safety and Security Services, the assessment is "used as a strategic planning tool." In other words, the assessment is not to make a school district feel good or bad about the safety plans they have in place. It is meant to evaluate how effective those plans would be in protecting the students during an emergency. The company tours the school campus. In addition, off campus evaluations are made on school policies and protocols. Based on the findings of the on and off campus assessments the company offers viable solutions to improve school safety.

The school district has the option of purchasing various safety plans from the company. Other services the National School Safety and Security Services offers is risk-reduction training, professional development on how staff should handle school violence, and other high-tech. gadgets meant to ensure student safety, like metal detectors and cameras. The comapny will even conduct what they call table-top exercises. From what I gathered, this is a simulation of an emergency that can run a half day or a full day. This is not a full scale drill because those can be time and labor intensive. Instead, this is meant to be a stress free walk through of how to handle an emergency situation. If I am not mistaken, this is exercise is comprised of more dialogue than what an all out drill would be.

These services are not free of charge, and unfortunately I could not find an actual cost. A school district would have to contact the company to set up a consultation. However, the company did emphasize that the cost included the size of the district, the number of schools within the district that were to be assessed, the time it took to conduct those assessments, completion of a pre-assessment review, the results of the report itself, travel time, a consulting fee, and all expenses, such as travel, logding, and food. Also, it should be noted that the more off site evaluations of school policies and protocol the more expensive it is. Obviously, this would be an expensive endeavor. There is a link on the website to grant information.

Is it worth it? Would most school districts pay to have an evaluation of the effectivness of their safety plans? It is absolutely worth it! I'm not so sure, though, that school districts could afford to have their schools evaluated. Look at the number of school districts locally that are sturglling financially in Michigan's sluggish economy. It seems like this is something all schools should have done. Unfortunately, the cost will hinder most school districts from having if completed. Once something tragic occurs community members will be asking if something could have been done.

I still have many questions regarding this safety assessment and plans. Does the company make any guaratees? How many schools have they evaluated, and what is their track record? Do the schools that had an assessment done feel it was worthwhile? What are your thoughts?