The Front Line Moves to Schools

Public schools are trying to respond as gun violence, especially gun violence in schools, unfortunately, happen more often today than any other time in American history. As school lockdown drills are becoming the new normal for schools across the country, many schools will start the 2018 school year with stricter safety rules and hiring more armed guards.

For example, in Parkland, Florida where 17 people were killed last year after a school shooting, students were given completely clear backpacks for school in order to tighten security. (Click Here for more on stricter rules this year in schools). In Florida new rules and measures are being put into places across the state to increase the safety of students during school. Broward County will hire armed security guards at schools to protect students. Some districts have requested metal detectors to be used, to tighten school security. And outside of Florida many have argued for teachers to be trained and armed with guns to protect their students. (Click Here to read more on arming teachers). Before the school year started the Miami-Dade Police Chief comforted parents by assuring that schools, “Will be safer than ever.”

As schools in Florida and across the country are tightening up school security do you think New Trier is doing enough? What else can schools do to preserve a safe learning environment without disrupting students’ learning? Do you agree with the Miami-Dade Police Chief’s statement? Are these actions creating “figurative” bridges or borders in society?