Logically, this generation should be the one most naturally protected from violence in our schools. We were practically raised on “Stranger Danger” videos and Code Red drills. But alas, here we are in 2019, and whatever may seem logical has been flipped on its head. In this year alone, at least 17 mass shootings have occurred, according to ABC News.
Now, the reason Perry Township and SHS have installed updated security technology and revamped procedures isn’t inherently gun violence– although that may have played a role in why Motorola would fund such a grant in the first place — but for all intents and purposes, the reasoning behind the new security doesn’t matter. The question still burning in my mind, at least, is whether or not this will make us safer.
There’s certainly the comforting notion that security acts as a preventative measure. Perhaps a potentially dangerous individual will be discouraged by the safeguards in place, or the streamlined system can stop an event before it happens. In that respect, I do feel safer having a better camera system and a more efficient process for ensuring that doors aren’t being accessed by the wrong people.
Still the part of me thinking on a more national level feels uneasy about heightened security in schools. I don’t want educators being forced to come up with ways to protect children while members of Congress are shirking that responsibility. It is the role of the government, after all, to protect certain human rights in exchange for the surrender of others. To me, the right to be safe while pursuing education seems like one that should be placed at the top of the priority list.
I also know, deep down, that strengthening security isn’t going to stop a determined violent individual from acting on violent impulses, nor will all the congressional laws in the world. School violence is a problem so ingrained in American culture that it’s nearly impossible to discern potential solutions from potential escalators. At SHS, the new safety measures make me feel more comfortable on a surface level, but considering the tragic reality of our country, I can’t pretend to feel legitimately and unquestionably safe.