School safety continues to be a hot topic across the nation. For as long as there have been public schools, adults have been discussing how to keep kids safe. Back in the late 80s-early 90s, it seems most of the discussions revolved around gangs and increasing gang violence. These discussions were definitely taking place in the urban centers of the US, such as Detroit and LA, but they were also occurring in increasing numbers in smaller communities. The spread of gangs and copy-cat gangs (which were even worse) permeated school board conversations throughout the country. As we moved into the 21st century, and in the aftermath of Columbine which really began the hyper-focus, the dialogue moved towards preventing mass school shootings. With the media sensationalizing each incident, it appears these incidents were increasing and getting worse. Granted, it’s understandable with incidents like Sandy Hook, the nation’s heart breaks and people gather to try and prevent it ever occurring again. People began to feel like schools were getting more and more unsafe. But, a recent study by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Bureau of Justice Statistics says schools are actually safer than they were in the past.
In their recently released report, “Indicators of School Crime Safety: 2014”, researchers found that school safety has increased. Regardless, in 2013, there were 45 school-associated violent deaths. Only looking at those involving children from 5-18 years old, there were 15 homicides and 5 suicides. To be included, the incident had to occur inside a school building, on school property or going to or returning from school. 1,420,900 non-fatal victimizations were reported. From 2009-2010, 85% of public schools recorded one or more crimes at school logging an astonishing 1.9 million. Although the report shows these numbers are down from the past, safety at school continues to be something everyone in juvenile welfare needs to focus on. We need to continue to try and create non-reactive, evidence-based solutions to the issues causing school violence.
Issue of safety
Although adults seem focused on the more horrendous mass shootings, the issue of school safety has a different dialogue when discussed by the students themselves. A survey of high school students in Charleston (WV) showed their main day-to-day concern was not a Columbine-style massacre. In fact, it was the more common student-to-student violence that made them feel unsafe. Their solutions focused less on big, systemic changes (which seem to permeate adult dialogue) but more home-grown such as enclosing a breezeway and having an adult presence. The ability to move about in adult supervised spaces was the popular consensus. The Chicago Police Department and School District came to the same conclusion when they were approached by Leave No Veteran Behind. This non-profit organization places veterans along school routes giving students the adult supervision and presence they crave and has also been proven to dissuade crime and increase safety. They aren’t armed, but veterans are trained in non-violent intervention tactics. But, most important, they are there—an adult presence. The benefits don’t stop with just the students. The veterans themselves are being placed in a protective role giving them a purpose and value after military service. Although many other areas have experimented with this adult presence model, mostly unofficially, the Chicago program has gained a lot of attention across the country.
Guns in school
The most contentious conversation involving school safety is the notion of armed protection. Although many schools have a school resource officer, this program in many places in underfunded and understaffed. There might only be one officer for an entire district made up of half a dozen schools or more. Structural solutions, such as locks, video surveillance and even gun-fire activated systems plugged directly into police dispatch are increasing the ability to notify and handle an incident if it occurs. But can increasing an armed presence in schools be a deterrence? Many people believe it can. In fact, the school board in Keene (TX) recently voted not only to arm specific teachers but also to provide them with the handguns they were authorized to carry. In some areas, veterans and other public safety people strive to change laws that would allow them to have an armed presence in school zones. There are many districts that are allowing this to happen. On the other hand, there are a number of districts that do not believe arming teachers is the answer. In a recent letter from a superintendant from a small district in Oregon, he argued there wasn’t enough evidence to support allowing teachers to carry concealed on school grounds and reminded supporters and opponents alike that placing a teacher in a position where they were required to make a split second life or death decision to kill a student or a former student was more complicated than most people think about. Every officer understands that the decision to use deadly force requires extensive physical and psychological training. Again, there are arguments on both sides of this debate and it will continue as we try to improve school safety.
A New Issue
Although most dialogue involving school safety revolves around the issues I’ve mentioned, recently there has been a new issue facing public safety. Officers assigned to schools are there for a variety of reasons. They are mentors and role models, while at the same time an armed presence against external and internal dangers. But what happens when an officer acts within their role against a student? When Richland County (SC) Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Fields removed and arrested a violent 16 year old high school girl from her classroom, the video went viral. His actions sparked controversy with heated arguments on both sides. He used unnecessary force. She wasn’t doing anything. He was brutal. He acted outside his authority and was inappropriate. The Monday morning quarterbacking was fierce. (Don’t get me started on people’s uneducated second guessing an officer’s split second decisions from the comfort of their couches.) The reaction of his department added fuel to the fire as they attempted to control popular opinion. Since that time, more and more videos of SROs doing their jobs are permeated the media and most of the discussion is negative. This is in liege with the general anti-police environment we are currently in. As a society we have tasked these officers with keeping our schools safe with their armed, trained presence but we don’t want them to actually do anything. This must change or we have tied the hands of the protectors we have placed in our schools as they will start second guessing their interactions and hesitating creating an unsafe environment for them and our children.
We should never stop trying to make our schools safer. Even thought there are many hurdles for us to overcome, the safety of our nation’s children affects all of us. We cannot just continue fighting. We have to be willing to continue coming to the table together, especially those of us tasked with child welfare. If the adults continue to push for solutions of prevention and protection, we can make a brighter future for all of us.
Michelle Perin
Michelle Perin has been a freelance writer since 2000. In December 2010, she earned her Master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Indiana State University.
