EDUCATION OR PRESERVATION? THE EDUCATOR'S VIEW

• NCJ Number: 54857
• Journal: Security Management Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1979) Pages: 36-38,40-41
• Author(s): A KMET
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: American Soc for Industrial Security
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

COMMENTS ON THE CAUSES OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM AND ON SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM ARE PRESENTED BY EDUCATORS AND OTHERS.

Abstract

THE ARTICLE QUOTES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, THE NATIONAL PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION, AND THE FIELDS OF SCHOOL SECURITY CONSULTATION AND SCHOOL SCHOOL SECURITY TECHNOLOGY--ALL REGARDING SECURITY OPTIONS FOR SCHOOLS. THERE IS DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE CAUSES OF AND SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM IN THE SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, THERE IS AGREEMENT ABOUT THE PERVASIVENESS OF THE PROBLEM, THE NEED TO INVOLVE THE TOTAL COMMUNITY (INCLUDING PARENTS AND STUDENTS) IN SOLUTIONS, THE SCARCITY OF FUNDS, THE APPROPRIATENESS OF HANDLING THE PROBLEM LOCALLY, THE LIMITED EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN SECURITY DEVICES (PRIMARILY ALARM SYSTEMS), AND THE NEED TO CLARIFY THE ROLE AND QUALIFICATIONS OF SCHOOL SECURITY DIRECTORS. THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD IS VIEWED AS THAT OF ESTABLISHING A PHILOSOPHICAL FRAMEWORK FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT'S HANDLING OF SECURITY PROBLEMS, WHEREAS THE ROLE OF THE PRINCIPAL IS TO SET THE TONE FOR EACH SCHOOL AND TO DETERMINE THE SCHOOL'S SECURITY PRIORITIES. ONE SPOKESPERSON POINTS OUT THAT, DEPENDING ON HOW IT IS CARRIED OUT, A SECURITY PROGRAM CAN BE EITHER A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE INFLUENCE ON THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. ANOTHER POINTS TO THE NEED TO PROVIDE SCHOOL SECURITY GUARDS WITH TRAINING THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO DEAL MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH DISRUPTIVE STUDENTS. A SCHOOL SECURITY CONSULTANT SUGGESTS THAT SCHOOLS IMPLEMENT SECURITY AWARENESS PROGRAMS AND SECURITY SURVEYS LIKE THOSE USED IN BUSINESSES. CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SECURITY DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE SECURITY DIRECTORS MIGHT MAKE TO RESOLVING SCHOOL SECURITY PROBLEMS ARE SUGGESTED. (LKM)