| Back in the good old days, when I had to walk to | | | | reported to the proper authorities immediately. |
| school in the snow, uphill both ways, | | | | Depending on the size of the school, consideration |
| misunderstandings between students at school were | | | | should be given to the installation of an electronic |
| usually handled with a good old fashioned fist fight. | | | | access control system. This type of system can |
| O.K. since I grew up in a West Texas border town, | | | | allow a large school to limit access to authorized |
| fist fights sometimes escalated into knife fights or | | | | personnel only, while ensuring that all visitors enter |
| even gang fights, but no one ever brought a gun to | | | | through the main office corridor. |
| school to indiscriminately shoot faculty or students. | | | | In many school districts, Closed Circuit Television |
| What is happening in the world today? Perhaps it is | | | | Systems (CCTV) are being deployed with great |
| the prevalence of violence on Television or Video | | | | success. With some large urban high schools having |
| Games. Maybe it is the escalating use of Psychotropic | | | | upwards of 4,000 students, it would prove very |
| Medications to treat so-called Mental Illness or could it | | | | difficult even for a full time School Resource Officer |
| possibly have to do with the fact that you can't beat | | | | to monitor the school grounds or enforce the school |
| the crap out of your kids when they get out of line. | | | | policies without a little bit of electronic help. |
| Whatever the reason, it is getting downright scary | | | | A properly installed and configured CCTV system can |
| for some people to send their kids off to school | | | | allow a School Resource Officer to have his eyes on |
| these days without fear that some nutcase is going | | | | many parts of the campus simultaneously. In addition, |
| to do them some harm. | | | | a CCTV system can prove invaluable in the |
| So what can Schools do to protect our children, while | | | | investigations of any crimes or infractions of school |
| still providing a friendly environment that fosters open | | | | policy that have occurred. |
| communication and learning? | | | | Schools in very high risk areas have even gone as far |
| Obviously the addition of armed security officers that | | | | as installing walk-through Metal Detectors at every |
| patrol the hallways could go a long way to providing | | | | public entrance. Others choose to deploy them only |
| safety and security to students. In fact, many Inner | | | | at special functions or sporting events. At a minimum, |
| City Schools already employee "school resource | | | | schools should have access to at least one hand held |
| officers", many of whom are real Police Officers. | | | | metal detector for emergency situations. |
| Some Police Departments have recently taken it | | | | Regardless of their size or location, each and every |
| upon themselves to provide certified law | | | | school should have a well prepared emergency crisis |
| enforcement officers who are permanently assigned | | | | plan in place. Key staff members should be |
| to a school or a set of schools. | | | | thoroughly trained in emergency preparedness and |
| These officers act as comprehensive resources for | | | | crisis management. |
| his/her school and they will typically be enlisted to | | | | Crisis drills should be performed with all staff, |
| perform quite a few vital functions in the school | | | | students and emergency management personnel. |
| including law enforcement, teaching law enforcement | | | | One of the key benefits of having emergency drills is |
| courses and even counseling troubled students. | | | | that Police, Fire and Emergency Responders get to |
| If you would like more information on School | | | | meet key staff members of the school and they can |
| Resource Officers, check out the National Association | | | | become familiar with the school grounds before |
| of School Resource Officers. They are a not for | | | | having to respond to an actual emergency situation. |
| profit organization for school based law enforcement | | | | Above all else, communication may hold the key to |
| officers. [ | | | | preventing school violence. Parents should get |
| Even if they already have a School Resource Officer, | | | | involved in safety planning at their local schools. Open |
| every school should have a comprehensive Safety | | | | forums should be formed to discuss security. Ask |
| and Security Plan. | | | | students and parents to share any concerns they |
| Every school safety and security plan should include | | | | have about school safety. Encourage staff and |
| Access Control policies and procedures. Each | | | | students to report suspicious activity or people to |
| entrance to the school should be constantly | | | | the appropriate authorities. |
| monitored and, when possible the doors and windows | | | | Beyond anything that happens at school, the best |
| should remain locked. | | | | advice to possibly preventing a tragedy is simply to |
| Without exception, every Visitor should be required | | | | talk to your children and get involved in their lives. |
| to check in with the Central Office and show proper | | | | Make them put away that Play Station and ask them |
| identification before they are issued a visitors badge. | | | | how their day went. Don't just ask, but actually sit |
| They should wear the visitors badge at all times. | | | | down and listen. Getting caught up in your child's life |
| School personnel should be knowledgeable and well | | | | may sound torturous, but it can actually be very fun |
| trained in the Schools Access Control Policies and | | | | and interesting and is quite possibly the best way to |
| should not be afraid to confront an unknown person | | | | prevent a crisis before it happens. |
| to ask for identification. Any strangers should be | | | | |