Safety In Our Schools
Read the following article, about a New Jersey school district that has armed police officers stationed at their schools:
The Record: School Safety
What do you think about this? Do you think it's an effective way to protect our schools? Why, or why not? What might be some other steps schools can take?
Would any of these measures have helped in the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon? (Click HERE for info.)
Note: Be sure to post thoughtful responses to blog questions - both the initial question that I post, AND to the posts of your classmates. "Yeah, I agree," or "Good point!" is not a complete response.
Remember, you're carrying on a conversation, that you are contributing to! If we can have a good, thoughtful conversation on this topic, this could be the LAST BLOG OF THE YEAR!
The Record: School Safety
What do you think about this? Do you think it's an effective way to protect our schools? Why, or why not? What might be some other steps schools can take?
Would any of these measures have helped in the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon? (Click HERE for info.)
Note: Be sure to post thoughtful responses to blog questions - both the initial question that I post, AND to the posts of your classmates. "Yeah, I agree," or "Good point!" is not a complete response.
Remember, you're carrying on a conversation, that you are contributing to! If we can have a good, thoughtful conversation on this topic, this could be the LAST BLOG OF THE YEAR!
I think this totally depends on where your school is located. In large schools in the urban areas I think that this is a good Idea, It will help deter kids that might be thinking about doing some bad things. However in small rural areas it might be a waste of money and resources that we could use other places. I think it is important to talk to students about theses things and to make sure they know that it is ok to tell teachers and principles if see or hear about a student wanting to do something bad. I think that we really have to look at where the school is and take it on a case by case basis, but everywhere should have the conversation about noticing the signs and making sure if they hear anything to tell someone what they heard.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Schools should have more talks about how kids shouldn't feel afraid to tell their teachers if they hear someone talking about shooting the school. Many kids are afraid to tell anyone about this type of thing. It's understandable, it's a scary topic. However, it's one that needs to be addressed in schools more.
DeleteSchool should be a safe place for children to learn and play, not a place where they could potentially be in danger of a gunman. Would having an armed security guard make everyone safer? My answer to this question is yes. For example in our small school we pretty much have the whole building under cameras and could locate the shooter in hopefully enough time. In this time our guard would be notified and armed in case of an entry. The guard could "take out the shooter" as said in the article above. This idea would not only make schools safer but also make all students and staff feel safer.
ReplyDeleteI also agree, with a small school like ours if we did every have to deal with a gunman since are school is so small a armed guard would hopefully be able to find and take down the gun man a lost faster then he would be able to in a much larger school. In a larger school it may take a lot more time to find the gun man and they may need more the just one guard .
DeleteIt may make the staff and students feel safer, but I would hope maybe that the younger children wouldn't be scared of a guard. I can't help but think they might not feel safe, but instead feel like there's a time school won't be a safe place.
DeleteThat's also a good point, young children could be scared of the guard and even wonder why they might have to have one. They could start to question their own safety at their school.
DeleteI agree, it would make a lot of people feel more safe, but I also think even if the younger students were somewhat intimidated by the guards, it's better to have the younger children to be scared of them, which I hope they wouldn't be, but it'd be better then having gunmen coming into the school.
Deleteyes having a guard would make it a lot more safe, also if you have a guard in your school because of a small town we live in lots of people would hear about us getting a guard and people would probably stay away from us like shooters maybe cause they know we are armed.
DeleteI also really think where the school is located affects it very much. If you are in a big school in a bigger city I think that police officers would be a good idea. If you are in a smaller school I don't think it would be that affective though. All in all a police officer would help to a certain point in any school but not 100% affective. I think it all depends on how this police officer is and how serious he is also.
ReplyDeleteThis was a point that I didn't make in my post, I agree that the location of the schools could matter in this discussion too. Just like Carson said above, smaller schools wouldn't need a guard as much as a bigger school would.
DeleteI agree, it wouldn't prevent school shooting but it would lower the number of deaths.
DeleteI think having armed security guard is a great idea to have in school, but I also agree with Haydn it does really depends where the school is located. In larger cities with bigger schools that have a lot more kids then in rural areas with schools that have a lot less kids I feel like if the school has the means to have this security guard and can pay this security guard then yes it would be a great thing. I just think over all this is a great way to make kids feel safe and if something was really to happen where a armed security guard is needed then the school is even more ready for the worst.
ReplyDeleteI believe that having an armed security guard is essential in some city schools. Preferably the bigger schools need to have larger security measures since more students means more of a chance for something like a school shooting more likely to happen. I feel that students would feel much safer coming to school knowing that they are somewhat protected by an armed officer, Students shouldn't have to live in fear everyday they go to school, worrying that something bad might happen. I do agree with Haydn though, it mostly comes down to where the school is located that will determine how much security there should be.
ReplyDeleteI also agree very strongly because bigger schools will need it because there are so many kids that you don't know and how they go about thinking there is a more chancer something will happen in bigger schools because there is more kids. Kids can also feel safer everyday coming to school and just going about there normal lives without living in fear.
DeleteI agree, all schools especially when they're in the city should have some type of security other than just a locked door.
DeleteI agree, in the big cities they have gangs who are out there dropping people and kids wouldn't have protection in school without security guards.
Delete**DISCLAIMER**
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of thoughts so I'm going to sort them by numbers.
1) I think it's smart to have some kind of protection in schools but maybe having armed guards come in is a little extreme. Don't you think the younger kids would be scared if officers with guns are always around always watching them?
2) That leads into effectiveness. Perhaps it would be more effective to administer certain people in the school guns and gun permits so the children aren't completely freaked out and it's kind of "low-key". That way the school has protection but it's not a huge deal.
3) Now I'm not saying that school shootings aren't a big deal because they are and they should be treated that way. However, by putting armed guards everywhere and making it well known that officers are everywhere some shooters may see that as a "challenge", making it more likely for shooters to bring more ammunition and possibly more people.
If we try hiding the guards for the sake of not scaring everyone, won't it have the opposite effect? We want any possible shooters to see the guards and be aware of them. That being said, do we scare children by bringing in a guard who's very noticeable, or do we risk a possible shooter not being deterred? You make a good point by saying the shooter may see the guard as a challenge and may be more prepared, because it's true. It's a really tedious thing to choose between.
DeleteI think it'd be better to have younger children be intimidated by the armed guards (which hopefully they weren't) then have chances of gunmen coming and causing harm or death. In this case it's better to be safe then sorry.
DeleteIf they see it as a challenge then that is good so they will not try in the first place. It's better to have them think there is a challenge then no challenge at all so they will back off and not attack the school and harm the students or the staff.
DeleteI think the threat of a armed guard would lessen the chance of a shooting, but I don't think it will eliminate the threat completely. I also think with a guard looming around schools, students would feel uneasy during their day. Not because they did something wrong, but because something could go wrong. Guards would just be a rough reminder that school might not always be safe. On the safety side, guards could help end a shooting before it escalates, but with the element of surprise there's a chance that people could die before the guard could get involved. This being said, guards could protect the school, but not completely. It all depends on who has the money to hire them and keeping them so the children don't always see them. In the shooting that happened in Oregon, it's tough to say since there was hostages. Maybe if the shooter was stopped before entering the classroom, the whole ordeal could have been avoided.
ReplyDeleteIt does depend on the money and if they can afford it. What is sad is some schools do not have grants or donations towards updated security so this increases the chance of harm. Some organizations should donate money for schools so they have security so they can be safe before the shooter gets into the classroom.
DeleteI think that armed guards at schools is a great idea to an extent, school is already strict as it is, having armed security guards walking around I feel will make the school have a prison like look to it, which a school is not supposed to have. But what I think should happen is metal detectors at the entrances if anything, and maybe have an armed guard or two at each entrance checking students bags, but police officers patroling the halls, thats to far.
ReplyDeleteyes i agree the armed guard at schools is a good idea, school is very strict. Having a guard would defiantly affect the atmosphere. I feel they should have metal detectors also
DeleteI agree having metal detectors would be more useful rather then intimidating the kids by having officers watching over you.
DeleteI agree. Metal detectors would most likely be the best step towards the right direction. If a threat of an attack gets too severe, then consider an armed guard. But for every day safety, guards seem a little extreme.
DeleteI think all schools should offer some sort of protection for students and teachers. Armed guards may be a little extreme, of course depending on where you live. Places where violence is more common, armed guards is probably a pretty good idea. In smaller areas, like where we live, armed guards are not needed, but it'd be a good idea to have some sort of protection.
ReplyDeleteI agree that protection is needed and I think it totally depends on where you are if armed guards are needed. I also agree that in small towns, like Hurley for example, armed guards may be a bit extreme.
DeleteGood point. However, though it may be unlikely, there's still a risk for small schools to be under risk of an attack. If the town is undergoing a situation where an armed and dangerous criminal is on the loose, then perhaps armed guards wouldn't be a bad idea. It all comes down to the situation, I guess.
Deletei also agree that protection is needed in a school like ours.
DeleteI say who cares if they have armed guards. In the hood where people are getting dropped everyday, the schools have metal detectors and they already have armed guards. But when some white school in New Jersey gets armed guards, people start caring for some reason. I think its effective way for that but I think it costs to much.
ReplyDeleteI strongly disagree with you. In the end you have to think whats more valuable, saving the lives of many children or losing a little bit of money? Money is materialistic, a life is a LIFE. That is a person we're talking about! I think having guards is something to be debated and something to think about and something people should care about. And if they're in "the hood" they should have guards or more thorough background checks. A LIFE is more important than MONEY.
DeleteWhy does it matter if it's, as you say, "in the hood" or not. Violence is everywhere. No matter where you go, some places obviously worse than others. You can't really say anything about the school in New Jersey, why? You don't go there and never have! How do you know that there isn't problems with violence there? I'm sure they wouldn't pay for armed guards if they didn't think it was needed. People aren't "just starting to care for some reason" now, it's just the first time you're hearing about it.
DeleteI disagree too. You can always get money back but you can't get someones life back. And you don't give any more information about why you think this.
DeleteHaving a guard would be a great idea. For 1 it would make the kids much safer, more kids would actually act more mature, and kids wouldnt/shoudnt be dumb enough to bring illegal things into school especially if a guard was in the school. Guards could be so usefull. They could maybe even start a small class teaching kids about police and armed forces.
ReplyDeleteI agree, people would act more mature, and we wouldn't have to worry about having assembly's about all these things happening during school, because we would have more protection.
DeleteI agree it would be a lot safer for the schools and the kids in them, and also parents will feel better knowing their kids are more protected.
DeleteI agree with you that kids might act more mature and that it would be safer, but just because they have armed guards in the school it doesn't mean kids aren't still going to try and bring say drugs or weapons into the school.
DeleteI agree the kids would get a real life check and become more mature with a police officer in the schools and they would feel safer. I also agree how the guards could start their own class on the things they do.
DeleteI believe it is very effective but despite the pros to be ready for emergencies it still doesn't change the probability of a shooter still trying to come to the school and harm the students.I believe the teachers should be trained too in case the guard can not make it in time. Depending on what the school can afford and its location they should take that into consideration if they should have guards if it is absolutely necessary because you do not want to make some students feel uneasy and intimidated by them.
ReplyDeleteI agree that even though it would be very effective it still doesn't stop people from tring to get into the school armed. I agree it would be very effective if the teachers were also trained.
DeleteI think it would be a good idea, to keep the schools protected. There would be less school shootings, less strangers just walking into the school. Then again, the kids would be intimidated by the officers standing there with guns in their hands, that can get pretty scary. In most cases it really just depends on the area you live in, like in small towns like Hurley, WI, you probably wouldn't need to go out that far to protect the schools, but in bigger places like Chicago or Wyoming, you would probably need to go that far, they're are far bigger areas with far more people.
ReplyDeleteYes it depends on the location you do not have to invest and waste money if the school has less of a chance on getting invaded.
Deleteyes having to be invaded would be risky so yea i agree
DeleteI think armed guards would be a great idea - it could save many lives. I believe it would be very effective, but only in certain locations, like schools in big cities where there are a lot more risks. At a school like ours, I feel would it be safe without cops walking around. I am not saying it will never happen here, but I feel like we have a lower risk compared to other schools in the city. What they could also start doing is training teachers about protecting kids.
ReplyDeleteA armed guard would give students just another way to to feel safer while they are in school. I know must kids do not worry or think about a gunman that would come into there school, but there are some students who really worry about all of this things everyday.
ReplyDeleteI think an armed guard in the school could possibly be affective and make children feel safer in school. Also, making parents feel better about sending their kids to school. I think it would be really affective and protective for bigger schools. Smaller schools I feel could be safe without having armed guards in the school, but maybe close by.
ReplyDeleteI think having a police officer in our school would be the most effective because it gives us the protection we need in a school in case there is a urgent emergency like a fire or a school shooter i just think it would be a great investment in our school.
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