Personal Injury Law

Securing the Schoolyard

By Megan Roth

Yesterday I discussed the need for increased security measures concerning school visitors. As pointed out in my post, it's completely necessary in order to ensure student safety (which can never be 100% guaranteed, but we can do our best to come close to a guarantee).

Now what about school faculty and staff? Should they be required to wear an ID? Say the answer is "Yes, they should." Does that ID really do much in the way of improving safety? Should teachers be allowed to come and go as they please, through whatever entrance/exit they please?

I realize these questions probably seem unnecessary to many of you, but let me give you an idea of why I'm asking:

I grew up in a town of 2500, where everyone knew everyone. I used to park on the wrong side of the road (note: I never got a ticket), I left the keys in my car (note: it was never stolen), and my family didn't lock our doors at night (note: nothing was ever stolen). I always felt safe, especially in school.

But things are a little different now. My mother actually teaches at that school and is required to wear a photo ID badge every day. Without her ID badge, she doesn't work.

Many schools around the nation are also have similar systems in place. In fact, the security at my former school is minimal when compared to that of others, many of which actually require personnel to swipe their badge in order to gain access to school facilities.

I've encountered several teachers who feel the badges are a ridiculous inconvenience, and I'm always quick to point out what an inconvenience it would be someone were to walk in the school looking like a parent or teacher and do something damaging to a facility, or worse, to a student.

These staff ID systems are necessary, to say the least. In fact, they're so necessary many schools have actually allotted portions of their budgets in order to establish and upkeep such systems and programs.

Now, the fact that multiple schools are implementing such systems can mean one of two things: 1) The systems used to implement such programs are incredibly fancy and glamorous and schools are picking up on them so as not to be left behind or outdone by the rest or 2) the systems used to implement such programs have proven effective in terms of reducing the risk of harm by individuals who have no purpose on school premises.

I'll let you use your own judgment to determine which is true; however, I will tell you there's nothing glamorous about being patted down and having to swipe a badge in order to gain access to your own classroom.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on September 17, 2008 (boomark / email).