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Editorial
National headlines almost hit home
During the past two weeks, there have been at least four reports of major school attacks across the United States. Thankfully, a hoax involving West Seneca East High School did not generate a fifth occurrence. The rumor unnerved enough Cheektowaga and West Seneca parents to keep more than half the school's student population out of the building on Tuesday.
While the incident was handled well by district and police officials, the scenario- and the recent national outbreak- must not generate overreaction from the public. People across the United States will likely demand tighter security for our schools. However, tighter security will lead to a more restricted atmosphere, so any change in security should be well-thought-out, since there will never be a perfect plan to prevent violence.
Many area schools have doors that are locked from the outside. Visitors must go to a designated door where the entrance is monitored. While this is a sensible idea, a side door can still be opened by a student, allowing trespassers easy access.
Metal detectors have been used in larger cities, but their use can delay the start of classes, because many students arrive just before classes begin. Asking students to arrive early to avoid this problem is not an option; ask a student how much time he or she would like to spend in school and you'll likely learn that they feel they already spend too much time there.
The Cheektowaga Police Department has cameras inside town public schools, but these cameras can only do so much, and they are not constantly monitored. Still, the cameras provide a useful tool in the event of an emergency. Armed guards may seem like a good idea, but they can be overpowered.
Increased security is an added major expense to taxpayers who are already overburdened, and there is still no guarantee that it will lead to safer schools.
Many ideas and plans will likely be examined across the United States. However, the best choice for school safety may be continued vigilance on the part of police, school district officials parents and especially the students themselves.
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