Backlash Of Increased Security In American Schools example essay topic

A comparison of public school and prison security measures: Too much of a good thing? Introduction As the 21st Century begins, Americans are bombarded with the growing reports of school violence incidents. Schools have traditionally been safe havens for children and the vast majority of the Nation's schools are so still. Fortunately, violent incidents still constitute only a small percentage of the total number of crimes committed in schools.

However, in any given year across the United States approximately 160,000 children miss school because of fear of injury or victimization. Crime in America's schools has been present since the first schools opened their doors in the mid-1600's. As a result of ever-evolving technology and information exchange capabilities, these crimes are being made more common knowledge among the general public. Today children continue to experience complex issues such as bullying, dating violence, prejudice, pregnancy, and drug use. As a result of these issues, coupled with potential victimization in the school setting, the capacity and ability to learn has been adversely affected. Also affected by violence in the school setting is the teachers' ability to teach.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 15% of students aged 15 to 19 report that most of the time they fear they might be attacked or harmed at school. The Response In response to fear of victimization that students have felt following school shootings and other violent incidents, the federal and local governments have launched multiple initiatives to confront school violence and foster school safety. Many schools have implemented programs such as "Students Against Violence Everywhere" (S.A.V.E.) that is a student-organized group that addresses and combats violence "before" it occurs. Other initiatives include Conflict Resolution, Peer Mediation, and other programs that increase parental involvement in schools.

Despite these prevention efforts, public outcry following highly publicized incidents like the Columbine High School shooting have driven many knee-jerk responses to the complex problem of school violence. These mostly involve increased physical security of the schools themselves. Over the past several years many schools have become modern-day "fortresses" equipped with surveillance cameras, security guards or police officers, mandatory identification badges, metal detectors, and locked perimeter doors during school hours. School Versus Prison Although school administrator's intentions may be "good" when deciding to implement such security in their schools, often little thought is given to the possible residual effects of such decisions. Many schools fear lawsuits that may ensue if violence erupts at their institution and other schools fear the loss of funds and contributions if they are victimized by violence.

Currently many schools are sadly becoming more security driven than student success driven, which can be seen in the methods that schools have implemented to ward off attacks of potential assailants ~ internal and external. The public generally approves of the current security measures being employed feeling that their children are safer as a result. Although a certain amount of physical security may be beneficial or needed, administrators must be careful with the position that "more is always better". As a result some schools have become "prisons" for American children, and may actually increase children's fear of victimization.

Many children are beginning to look around their school and wonder if things are actually "worse off" than they thought. The parallels between current school security measures and prison security are strikingly similar. The following table illustrates these parallels between current public school security measures and the American penal system. Characteristics of Security in American Educational Institutions and the Penal System American Public School American Correctional System Metal Detectors Metal Detectors Identification Badges Identification Badges Uniforms Or Clothing Standard Uniforms Surveillance Cameras Surveillance Cameras Searches - (Personal Property, Lockers Etc.) Searches - (Personal Property, Housing Units) Teachers Use Of 2-Way Radios Correctional Personnel Use 2-Way Radios Panic Buttons In Classrooms Correctional Officer Panic Buttons Locked Perimeter Doors Locked Perimeter Doors School Resource Officers Correctional Officers Controlled Movements Controlled Movements In-School Suspension / Detention Solitary Confinement / Protective Custody What could be the result of high security schools? As a result of the increased security measures being utilized in many school systems, children may actually be suffering another form of victimization. An overly controlled environment may stifle individual creativity, individualism, and possibly intellectual development.

With more restrictions, tighter security, less emphasis on individualism and teaching, children in American schools are being forced to conform to many new rules and regulations governing school practices. Unfortunately these come at the cost of sacrificing the overall experience of being students and achieving in the classroom environment. Another byproduct of increased security may be the message being sent to students of mistrust. The result is then a hampering rather than promoting of open communication between the school administration and the student body. Therefore it is possible that a backlash of increased security in American schools might be that students that spend more time unnecessarily worrying about their personal safety rather than academic performance. Is There a Balance?

As academic institutions continue to experience crime and violence, increased security is inevitable. However, there is a point of saturation. Currently, the prevailing view is that "more is always better". But this may be at expense of the students' academic performance, individuality, and overall development. Administrators and those tasked with security in their schools should consider prevention measures that are factually "need based". The analogy that fits many security measures that are currently being utilized is "killing an ant with a sledge hammer".

Before schools implement security measures an assessment should be conducted to identify what the problems are and how to rationally address them. Prevention measures, outside of technological devices, should be considered and could include conflict resolution programs, peer mediation, increased parental involvement, more access to counselors, and speakers to educate children on drug use, teen pregnancy, gangs, violence, and other issues that plague modern day society. Schools will always mirror society as a whole, and like prisons the outside problems of the world are magnified inside these institutions. Careful planning, utilization of available resources, creativity and a caring attitude about the mission of academic institutions, can only improve the school experience and begin to dissolve the now too common characteristics between schools and prisons. Gordon A. Crews, Ph. D., KCI Faculty Member Author of Faces of Violence in America; The Evolution of School Disturbance in America: Colonial Times to Modern Day; and, A History of Correctional Violence: An Examination of Reported Causes of Riots and Disturbances, among numerous publications dealing with school violence, occult and satanic involvement and youth, and law enforcement issues. Dr. Crews has bachelor and masters degrees in criminal justice, a doctorate in elementary education, as well as a graduate certificate in alcohol and drug studies.

Jeffrey A. Tipton, M.C.J. South Carolina Department of Public Safety, Columbia, South Carolina.