How do we protect kids in school?

[Corwin12]

What do you think:
Arm teachers
Gate the grounds
Watchtowers
Metal detectors
Armed guards

DW and I do not have children, but watching what is going on makes us nervous for every child out there ... 3 schools shootings in what, a little more than a week?

What do we do

 

[JennyMominRI]

As scary as these situations are, there are hundreds of thousands of schools in this country and what 10-20 incidents in the last 10 years?.The reality is our kids are a lot more at risk crossing the street or riding in a car... I'm not saying schools should not take precautions, just that perspective is important.

 

[CEDmom]

There's only some much anyone can do. Most schools have preventative measures in place as well as procedures in the event a disaster does happen.

Unless you want to lock your kids in a basement (a risk in itself) all you can do is the best you can do. With all the schools in this country being involved in a tragedy like this is very unlikely.

 

[bsnyder]

As scary as these situations are,there are hundreds of thousands of schools in this country and what 10-20 incidents in the last 10 years..The reality is our kids are at lot more at risk crossing the street or riding in a car... I'm not saying schools should not take precautions, just that perspective is important.

I totally agree. Take sensible measures, yes, but no need to go overboard. Even watching this stuff happening on TV this week. I don't worry about something like that happening to my daughter while she's at school. Could it happen? Yep. But she could also get struck by lightning or attacked by a shark when swimming in the Gulf. But the likelihood of any of those is so remote that it doesn't serve any constructive purpose to dwell on it.

 

[N.Bailey]

Here is what I would support.

Metal detectors in all schools. If the states can't afford them, have fun raisers. Allow each community to raise their own funds! I think with the way things are today, mostly everyone would contribute something. I hear they're costly, but I don't know how costly.

Get police inside the school entrance at the beginning of the day as students go thru these detectors. They don't have to stay all day, but just as school starts. I know our town would do this. Heck, we already have upteen cops circling the school grounds at the beginning of the day. Get em out of the vehicles and into the school lobby.

Once everyone is in for the day. Lock the school. That means ALL doors. Get the buzzer system that most schools have today. Once in, find out what the person wants. Don't just allow them to walk freely thru the building. Have them sign in and out and also go thru the detectors.

2 other things I can think of real quick. If your school is also the public library (I recently read this happens in some towns and was shocked), only allow those in the town into the library after school hours or get rid of these types of programs altogether. I'd also suggest for schools that are so large that students must go outside to change classes, do away with that. Give students a bit more time, but mandate they stay within the school.

IMO, none of these things are so drastic that they're too much to deal with.