Violence shouldn't answer violence
Ebonie Melek
Issue date: 11/17/08 Section: Opinion
In our generation, it seems violence is the answer to all problems. Although this source of "problem solving" leads to a great deal of pain and suffering, many people seem to choose this method. As soon as we think our schools are safe again, the unthinkable is lurking around the corner.
There was a school shooting last Wednesday at Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. According to CNN News, a 15-year-old girl opened fire in a crowed hallway and killed a friend. It is said that the young women had a dispute with each other, which led to the untimely death of a student just beginning her high school career. The shooter stated that she wanted her friend to feel the same pain that she was experiencing.
While reading this article, I couldn't help but think of how not too long ago our school received a threat that sent fear throughout the campus. Although the threat was never carried out, the institution followed certain precautions to better assist students if a similar situation were to occur again.
Schools are institutions for students to learn and build relationships that will help them grow into well-rounded adults. For some students, school is a safe environment where they can escape from the violence or poverty they experienced at home. There was a time when parents felt completely comfortable with their children attending school, relying on teachers and authority figures to keep their children safe. Now parents worry about their children's well being while they are away at school.
Over time, it seems education has become less important than providing safety for students. There are precautions and procedures that many schools follow, such as random metal detector checks and hiring of police officers to secure campus grounds. There also has been some discussion about allowing teachers to carry weapons during school, which I find completely stupid because it encourages fear and replicates violence, which could create an unstable learning environment.
Even though there are many ideas about how to make schools safer for students, there are some schools that can barely afford books, let alone safety personnel and equipment. Although raising the cost to attend school might seem like a good idea, many parents can't afford it. As of right now, there is no clear solution on how to provide safety for all schools, but we must not forget that these situations are occurring more frequently and figure out how to make sure that safety methods are feasible for all schools.
There was a school shooting last Wednesday at Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. According to CNN News, a 15-year-old girl opened fire in a crowed hallway and killed a friend. It is said that the young women had a dispute with each other, which led to the untimely death of a student just beginning her high school career. The shooter stated that she wanted her friend to feel the same pain that she was experiencing.
While reading this article, I couldn't help but think of how not too long ago our school received a threat that sent fear throughout the campus. Although the threat was never carried out, the institution followed certain precautions to better assist students if a similar situation were to occur again.
Schools are institutions for students to learn and build relationships that will help them grow into well-rounded adults. For some students, school is a safe environment where they can escape from the violence or poverty they experienced at home. There was a time when parents felt completely comfortable with their children attending school, relying on teachers and authority figures to keep their children safe. Now parents worry about their children's well being while they are away at school.
Over time, it seems education has become less important than providing safety for students. There are precautions and procedures that many schools follow, such as random metal detector checks and hiring of police officers to secure campus grounds. There also has been some discussion about allowing teachers to carry weapons during school, which I find completely stupid because it encourages fear and replicates violence, which could create an unstable learning environment.
Even though there are many ideas about how to make schools safer for students, there are some schools that can barely afford books, let alone safety personnel and equipment. Although raising the cost to attend school might seem like a good idea, many parents can't afford it. As of right now, there is no clear solution on how to provide safety for all schools, but we must not forget that these situations are occurring more frequently and figure out how to make sure that safety methods are feasible for all schools.
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