Safe Schools

[ExRanger714]

Local schools here have one resource officer per 2 schools -- and they are guys who for one reason or another are not fit for patrol duty, or even serving civil court papers. Most are a year or two from retirement, 100 pounds overweight, and are great playing Officer Friendly, but a security force they are not, in any way, shape or fashion.

We see them off campus at restaurants quite often which is odd since there are food service options (cafeterias) at their duty station but to hear them tell it cafeteria food is a fate worse than (fill in the blank).

There were no school shootings when the kids were learning from home. Just saying..

I don't know but perhaps it's because it's maybe hard for mass murders to work up much enthusiasm for their work when there's no one around to butcher? We have not suffered for a lack of school shootings since in person learning returned .One astute member pointed out the increase in children unintentionally or intentionally killing themselves or their peers with unsecured firearms in their home is not a strong selling point for homeschooling.

I've said this every time one of these incidents, (sadly), happen. Arming teachers isn't the answer. There are any number of Iraq and Afghan vets out there, young, fit, already trained up, and have had combat experience. This is the untapped resource we should look into for school security. Of course there needs to be a hard vetting process, but these are the guys for the job, and I believe they'd be happy to do it.

The following is a link to a PBS article (I know, "biased fake news" if you don't like them) and stats are stats and with suicide numbers high in veterans maybe they shouldn't be in such stressful positions until we can find out why they take their own lives? Can you really vet a suicide risk when perhaps they don't want to share their thoughts and feelings for fear of stigma, loss of job, family etc.?

Military suicides rise 15 percent as senior leaders call for action | PBS NewsHour

And around here, while the details are usually cloaked in "private personnel matters" camo unless it makes the court calendar, we have had at least one teacher AND one SRO in EVERY ONE of OUR (and many cases in surrounding school districts) schools lose their job or go to jail for preying on the students they groomed while at work/on duty.

 

[ameridaddy]

Seems to me just the possibility of encountering armed teachers or other personnel (no more "Gun Free Zone" schools) would be a deterrent to would-be mass murderers looking for easy pickings. If school personnel are willing and competent enough to be trained to carry, so much the better. Uncertainty whether there are none, one, or thirty-plus trained and armed personnel has to give pause to a would-be terrorist.

It also occurs to me that since our post 9-11 locked cockpit and traveling air marshal policies, along with heightened passenger awareness, have certainly tamped down plane hijacking. I would think that likewise locked down schools and a potential encounter with armed resistance would likewise give pause to a wannabe school shooter.

I think too much politics, too little parent participation in making demands of school boards, and a too-prevalent "Let George do it" and schools-as baby-sitters attitude has turned school systems and parents into adversaries rather than partners in doing what's best for our children.
I was in elementary school 70 years ago, and I very well remember parents enormously outnumbering school personnel at school board and PTA meetings.

 

[Chubbo]

Todays school curriculum

The playground, of my grade school, one through four, was gravel, outdoors, and It was secured, and supervised at recess time, by the school custodian 'Uncle Bob W.' the school ground had a pair of back-to-back outhouses, one for boys, and one for girls. Back then, kids, of that age, by their own choice had already determined their gender. When recess was over a bell sounded and we, in an orderly manner, quietly, proceeded back to our classrooms. That extremely simple system worked and worked well. Could it be possible that too little of the three Rs, and too much garblygook is taught in our schools today?

Respectfully, Chubbo

 

[Rustyt1953]

My high school built in 1901.

 

[IronSkillet]

With the best security equipment & practices in place a determined person wishing to create mayhem will not be denied.

At school kids need to kids, a response in this thread talks about a student who ordered tacos and ended up opening a door and suffered negative repercussions. (what's this child's take-away)

Identifying and changing the pattern of behavior before it gets to a point of ????. Maybe we need to look in a different direction to correct this because, locking the doors is not solving it.

 

[Hair Trigger]

No such thing as a "safe" place or safe school anymore with what's going on these days! Access would have to be so controlled, and limited that it would be almost impossible to get out, should the need arise…

It's getting to be that way, for sure.

My take on school shooting is that the shooter has found a place where his victims are defenseless, access is easy, and bedlam and panic are sure to ensue once the gunfire starts, aiding both his desire for mayhem and to escape unscathed afterwards, if escape is part of his plan, and not a simple murder/suicide. It is an act of terrorism, and by definition is almost impossible to predict the when and the where.

I doubt we'll ever be able to fully prevent them; alertness and recognition of a change in routine, and recognition of the imminent danger, may decrease mortality, but it won't fully prevent it. Someone has to "take one for the team" in an active shooting incident, to go after the gunman and risk themselves to protect as many of the others as possible. That in itself is no guarantee, though it may drastically decrease the damages.

Look back to 9/11, and Flight 93. This plane was destined to hit either the Capitol or the White House, but passengers took it on themselves to fight back, in hopes of taking back the plane. They knew the risks that they might not succeed, but tried anyway for the greater good, and while they did not survive themselves, there were no fatalities on the ground.

 

[Catwrangler]

This is in response to post #6.What school allows or a kid that expects Taco Bell delivery? Take food from home.eat the school lunch or go hungry. I'm glad my ashes will be spread B4 this entitled generation is in charge.
Bad enough roads near schools are impossible due to mom picking up Snow Flake instead on walking, riding a bicycle or the school bus.

 

[Catwrangler]

This is in response to post #6.What school allows or a kid that expects Taco Bell delivery? Take food from home.eat the school lunch. I'm glad my ashes will be spread B4 this entitled generation is in charge.
Bad enough roads near schools are impossible due to mom picking up Snow Flake instead on walking, riding a bicycle or the school bus.

 

[jaguargolf]

I'm confused. Latest shooter was said to be shooting outside the school for several minutes. On the video of him entering the school I see a man standing in front of parked cars in the background. Not the behavior I'd expect from the narrative.

 

[Pisgah]

People of America: If the Governor's kids or the President's kids went to your kid's school, they'd be safe, guaranteed.

Why don't our would-be rulers care for our kids as much as they do their own?

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Harris County schools have bowed to the inevitable years ago and every school has at least one, armed Sheriff's deputy on guard at all times depending on school size. It made me feel better when my kids were there that a reasonable precaution was taken.

 

[Muss Muggins]

My grandson got a suspension at his high school for opening a door for his Taco Bell delivery lunchtime

As he should have . . .

 

[Private Bailey]

Safe schools? How's this? Madison County North Carolina sheriff Buddy Harwood has placed AR-15 rifles in each school to beef up security. Sheriff's department deputies will work to train school personnel in their use. Each school will also be stocked with breaching tools so they won't have to wait on the cops or fire department to show up to get inside a locked or barricaded room.

This wasn't widely covered in national media. And even local media in larger metropolitan areas didn't go into much detail. The had to report it but no one really talked about what a significant action this is.