Letter to the Editor:
Creating a safe and secure environment has always been important for schools. For years, schools have had to address bullying and violence, which we know affects student well-being individually and collectively. We also know safer environments play a crucial role in student performance and teacher satisfaction.
School safety however has taken on new dimensions and importance with the growing number of school shootings. Do you realize what public schools are doing to protect children from gun violence. There are about 20 safety and security measures used by some or most schools. Reportedly more than 90 percent of schools are:
controlling access to school buildings during school hours
requiring visitors to sign or check in and wear badges
using security cameras to monitor the school
providing a structured anonymous threat reporting system
have an emergency response plan
Ten safety measures reported by less than half of schools, typically focus on student conduct are:
metal detector checks on students every day;
requiring clear book bags or banning book bags on school grounds; and
random metal detector checks on students.
Proper management of safety and security in educational environments is meant to promote physical, emotional, and social well-being. But are there other side effects?
First, in context, the impact of school shootings on students, families, even communities is unimaginable to most of us. Even students who are not physically harmed, experience impacts to their mental health, educational, and economic trajectories that last for years.
Research indicates:
A higher rate of antidepressants are used among those exposed to a school shooting in the years following.
* School shootings lead to drops in student enrollment and a decline in average test scores.
Gun violence Increases student absenteeism and the likelihood of needing to repeat a grade in the two following years.
Students are less likely to graduate high school, go to college, and graduate college, and they are less likely to be employed and have lower earnings in their mid-20s.
At the same time, some of the school safety measures to prevent a school shooting are impacting students as well. Distress and sometimes long landing trauma are reported by students and educators as a result of active shooter drills.
Why are we allowing gun violence, and fear of it, to affect our children in so many horrible ways?
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