Comments on: NYCLU: First step to school safety is rejecting metal detectors

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:03:20 +0000

What do you think of this report Philissa? I don’t see a solid link between any of the data they cited and their conclusion. They attribute a causal connection between the number of reported incidents and the metal detectors- as though the detectors in themselves were responsible for provoking misbehavior. Perhaps these incidents are more easily documented in schools with detectors- which also generally lean heavily on their SSAs for disciplinary support. I support their message but I’m not satisfied with the evidence they provide. I wish they could have nailed it down.

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Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:07:50 +0000

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By: ceolaf

ceolaf — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:05:54 +0000

I’ve long wondered about the appropriate response to violence, harassment and other “infractions” in schools — especially high schools.

Schools should not be a law-free zone. I don’t know if we help kids by hiding them from the seriousness of their behavior, which I think we do when we keep them from the reality of their offenses.

On the other hand, our justice system does such a poor job of dealing with adults and an even worse job of dealing with juveniles. It is often a cure that is worse than the disease.

I remain troubled. I do not know what the right answer is.

By: ceolaf

ceolaf — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:02:04 +0000

In my experience, students take offense at metal detectorss either way.

At schools with them, students complain that they are not trusted. At schools without them, student complain that their safety is not respected and valued.

More importantly, I am glad to see someone examing the issue through this differents. Relations between school safety officers — who are not trained as educators — and students can themselves be a problem. (Obviously, the SSO’s can present a host of challenges, as adults in the building who are not part of the educational team and might well have a different theory of discipline than the the faculty has agreed upon.) Removing this potential flashpoint strikes me as a wonderful idea.

I very like the idea of bringing students into the violence prevention discussion, making them part of the solution rather than the population upon which the program is imposed.