School Lockdown: Input Please!

[Ithuilwen]

All right, I'm posting this in hopes that the awesome power of collective DU brainstorming will help generate some helpful ideas. Anything you have to contribute is very much appreciated!

(disclaimer: This account is somewhat biased from my perspective and probably isn't all that objective.)

Yesterday morning, the principal at my high school informed the student body that a lockdown of sorts will be instated starting Monday. From fifteen minutes past the start of school onward, some sets of doors will be locked to people outside. He also told us that security cameras are going to be installed at various places throughout the school. It seems he's talked with safety officials (PD, FD) who said some safety measures really ought to be taken, and that he'd be in a very bad position if none were taken and something tragic happened.

I'm sure some of you reading this are wondering, "What the heck is this girl's problem? Most schools have their doors locked, security cameras, and metal dectectors to boot!" Yes, well, my response is, "You'd probably have some problems with this, too, if you knew what I know."

I go to school in a high school of approximately 800 kids. In Maine. We have never had a school shooting (there have been no school shootings anywhere in Maine, as far as I know). I don't think we've had a single bomb threat. A minor scuffle breaks out in school maybe three times a year. We have that "small-town" sort of atmosphere, with no rigidly delinineate cliques -- socializing groups are pretty amorphous -- so it is far less likely (not impossible, I know) that a kid can go through school feeling so utterly alienated that he/she feels the need to kill fellow students and teachers. Seriously folks, I have a feeling there are quite a few schools that would be envious of our situation.

Maybe it isn't the greatest idea to give specifics on the school setup, in case some psycho decides to read this. Just know this: the school is set up in such a way that kids regularly go outside of the school and enter it again in order to switch between classes quickly or to get to others. It is almost impossible to walk from one part of the school to another within the allotted passing time unless one does this (and of course, absolutely impossible to stay inside the school if one takes certain classes). The doors that are being locked are the ones that are used by students. We have been told that if we want to still use them, we'll probably be able to get back in if someone else is coming out. We have also been told that if we're found banging on the door to be let in, we'll be issued detentions.

Most of the school is in an uproar over this, primarily because a good percentage of the kids view this as a complete crock of crap. Not only does this new policy interfere with the normal functioning of the school (getting from class to class), it doesn't seem to be in the least bit practical. There are many, many sets of doors being left unlocked as they always have been (not just ones near a main office like one would naturally expect). Since we are such a laidback school, the idea that we have to instate security measures hit us like a freight train. All day yesterday, kids were asking each other if they had ever thought about the fact that we were "unsafe" because we didn't have our doors locked. And to be honest, most kids were pretty fatalistic, saying that if someone was so inclined to massacre us, nothing would stop that individual (and indeed, that person would in all likelihood already be inside the school).

Ultimately, my beef with this whole situation is this: 1) security cameras and locked doors do nothing to protect me from someone who really wants to kill me; 2) locked doors make it terribly inconvenient to function efficiently as a student given my school's setup; 3) this was sprung on me and the rest of my classmates without warning or any way to have our two cents heard; 4) I feel strongly that this is simply a superficial safety measure imposed to just make it look as though steps are being taken (yes, an extremely biased and perhaps untrue view); 5) I take issue with the idea of security cameras from a civil liberties standpoint. (The last two points are not ones I would use to publicly argue against this new policy, I just thought I'd further illustrate my beliefs to all you DUers.)

I went to my principal yesterday to arrange for a forum for kids to get together after school next week and discuss this issue. I really like our principal -- he's a great guy and tries awfully hard -- and I had no doubt that he'd agree (which he did). Since our student council really only serves as a spirit organization, I wanted to give students an opportunity to have their voices heard directly. Most kids in my school are apathetic when it come to just about everything, even things that directly affect them, but I saw so much energy and anger that I thought it would be best to harness this to put toward the crafting of some creative, practical, effective solutions (temporary and long-term). I respect the fact that something has to be done to increase the security of our school (and indeed, I don't really have a say in the matter as something IS being done Monday), but I and many other students feel that the current policy is not the way to do it.

What do you think? What suggestions do you have? Anyone faced a similar situation at his/her own school? Thanks in advance!

*edited for clarity

[alittlelark]

1. You have Very good writing skills for a HS student!

1. If the doors are locked from the outside, contact the Fire Marshall - he'll inform the school that it is unsafe and illegal.
2. Those that wish to 'massacre' tend to be w/in the school environment, and will figure out a way to get weapons in. Sounds like the students would not be able to get out


Sounds quite odd and confused to me.

[Ithuilwen]

2. Hmmm. Maybe I phrased that wrong.

The doors are locked so that kids can get out, but people outside can't get it.

Thanks for the compliment!

[alittlelark]

6. You stated 'from the outside'... you still have time to change it

<From fifteen minutes past the start of school onward, some sets of doors will be locked from the outside. >

[Ithuilwen]

23. Interesting. I changed this to

"From fifteen minutes past the start of school onward, some sets of doors will be locked to people outside."

a while ago, and people are still seeing it the original way (not showing up that way on my computer, though.)

:shrug:

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[peakoiler]

3. School newspaper

Like the rest of society, a good way for high school students to take a stand against the administration and policies they don't agree with is to get the press involved. You may think that the student newspaper just serves as a way to publicize the Math club or the field hockey team, but it can also be an effective medium to unite behind a cause. Just by bringing the issue up in print can be enough to scare the administration to be more lenient. Administrators are conscience of the fact that parents are also readers of the school paper and don't take that lightly. A strongly worded editorial or letter to the editor can go a long way, at least it did when I was in a suburban high school back in the 90s.

Freedom of the press can be a powerful tool to not only educate people on a certain issue, but to force the hand of those in power.

[Ithuilwen]

8. We unfortunately do not have a school newspaper.

At least not in the traditional sense. Which goes to illustrate my frustration with student voices not being heard and not being sought. We do have a newsletter that goes out monthly done by a communications class that highlights student activities, but that's it. No real journalism options.

Funny that you mention the editorial, because the students in that very same communications class wrote an article a while back for a section of the local newspaper reserved for various high schools. It had to do with how secure kids feel in their school. It was a poorly written article in unintentionally bad taste as far as how it made my school appear. Without going into excessive detail, there's a lot of personal strife and nasty fighting surrounding this article for reasons somewhat divorced from the merit of the new policy. I didn't hear about this article until yesterday a few hours after the announcement was made. Personally, however, I think that it caused parents to complain that we DIDN'T have locked doors.

It also seems that another kid wrote a LTTE in defense of our school's safety -- yet we're still stuck with this new policy starting on Monday.

[murielm99]

4. I sub at a pair of schools in a rural community.

It is a consolidated district. One town has the high school in the upper floors of the building, and elementary downstairs. The other school, in the nearby town, has 5-8 in one building. One community has a population of 600, and the other 1200.

There were no security measures until two years ago. No one saw the need. I used to park at the side of the building, and go in and out through a side door. That can't happen any more.

There was a huge community uproar when the schools instituted security measures. There is no crime here to speak of. People hated to lose their small town atmosphere.

Now, only the main entrance of each school is open. All classrooms must be locked from the outside when students are in the classroom. Students may not move around without signed passes. There are security cameras in the hallways and a few other places.

This is kind of a compromise. The schools don't want to face liability if anything bad happens. And most experts say that the dangers to students come from outside people.

I don't think anyone is happy with the arrangement, and it strikes me as sort of strange. But these days, we have to live with it.

[NewHampshireDem]

7. Muriel, I take issue with part of your post

"The schools don't want to face liability if anything bad happens."

I don't want one of my students to die much more than I don't want to be sued if it happens. Yes, 'liability' is an important concept, but even more important is the safety of the kids in our care.

[murielm99]

25. "The schools don't want to face the liability"

Those are the exact words that the school board used when they considered the issue.

Of course they are community members with ties to the community. They care about the students. Unfortunately, liability is what they had to consider as much as individual safety. Like it or not, that is one of the duties of school board members

[NewHampshireDem]

5. As a school administrator myself ..

Let me begin by commending your maturity in handling the situation. Setting up a meeting with students and the principal is a terrific way to approach the issue, rather than just ... well, you probably know enough about the foolish way students can sometimes react to changes.

Without knowing much about your particular situation, let me say that I share some of your concerns based on your description.

That students will need to use some of the doors that will be locked to access parts of the building troubles me. Is it that you *must* use those doors, or is it just more *convenient*? Let me give you an example: my own school has some temporary classrooms--essentially trailers outside the building. Some students like to cut across the parking lot and enter the cafeteria through one of the outside doors rather than enter the building, walk down the hall, and go through the interior doors to enter the caf. This has been an on-going battle: we don't want kids cutting across the parking lot b/c they are unsupervised, and, well, it's a parking lot! There's traffic, and, yes it is unlikely someone will get runover, but it is possible.

And that is the point of what the principal is probably trying to do: *manage* risk, rather than eliminate it. Yes, you are right that if someone really, really wanted to shoot up the school, they could. But why make it easier? Locking doors and taking other measures is not unlike wearing a seatbelt in a car--it will not guarantee that you will not have a fatal accident, but it sure will reduce the risk that you will. In an emergency, cameras, locked doors, and resonable safety proceedures could mean the difference between a mere inconvenience and a real tragedy.

If I were you, I would approach the principal with the attitude that you and the other students want to find the best possible solution to being secure. Think about compromises--like more passing time--that could keep the impact of the new rules to a minimum.

One final point: Though your school is probably very, very safe--as most schools are--don't assume that you or your group speak for all students. I was amazed when we began to lock doors, added a school resource officer, and took some other measures just how relieved many students were. Granted, we did these things in the wake of both 9/11 and a series of bomb threats. However, I think many students probably don't feel as safe in school as you do.

Good luck, and feel free to pm me if you have any specific questions/problems I can help with.

[AndyTiedye]

16. He Did Say That Not Enough Time Was Allowed Between Classes

to go all that way through the building.

and since kids get in trouble if they're late for class, it isn't
just a question of convenience.

[NewHampshireDem]

40. Again, from my perspective, I hear that kids don't have enough time

To walk from one side of the building to another in 3 minutes--a distance of about, oh, 100 feet. I merely wanted the poster to examine the presumption, which may well be a valid one. And, thus, my suggestion that one compromise be to lengthen the passing time.

[AndyTiedye]

42. And How Often do the Teachers Run Over by a Minute or Two?

You never really have the whole three minutes.

[Ithuilwen]

17. It's interesting to get the perspective of an administrator

Because as far as I can see, whether some of us like it or not, this issue will be something that the students have to work out with the principal/superintendent/etc.

It's encouraging to hear that you can see my side of the issue -- I was worried about the possibility that I was being overly unreasonable in my criticisms. It seems we students are creatures of habit, after all, and sometimes react negatively just because we don't like change. :)

Having a mature way to handle this is definitely the reasoning behind my making a beeline for the principal's office before kids did anything stupid. As I said in the original post, most at my school are apathetic about things, but when I heard grumblings of petitions and protests, I figured I'd better move quickly to create a way for the students to be viewed as rational rather than irrational. I can understand the desire to keep us safe, and in its purest form (sometimes my inner cynic says it may be diluted by the desire to appear as though action is being taken -- or at the very least, a school is doing what other schools are doing), it is not something I can criticize. That's why the intent behind this forum as I expressed it to my principal will be to gather constructive criticism, ways to deal with the security measures until school ends, and long-term adjustments that might be acceptable to both students and administrators. Hopefully, by doing so, we will be put on an even footing.

And just to clarify for you and anyone else reading this thread: Yes, it is necessary for us to use these doors. I hesitated in using the word "inconvenient" when I wrote the original post -- maybe I shouldn't have used it! Again, I don't want to give away too much of the school setup, but for those students who need to attend classes in the small building separate from the main one, using the main front doors simply isn't a workable option. Perhaps with longer passing time not being able to cut outside wouldn't be quite as big a deal, but I've tried going the long way indoors (with long legs, a breakneck walk, no bathroom or locker breaks or chitchatting, and the threat of points being taken off for getting to class after the bell) about three times this year and have come up about thirty feet short each time. Believe me, it gets extremely cold and windy in the middle of January, and if kids are still choosing to walk outdoors to get to class, you know that it isn't just them being lazy. Locking doors is a fine and reasonable way to increase security -- when it's practical. It's currently not at our school.

As far as students feeling unsafe, you have a point that some students may feel relieved about having these security measures. Although it seems the sentiment that having locked doors is pretty ridiculous (I actually began asking random kids what they thought about it, just to make sure I wasn't overreacting), I'm glad you pointed that out so I don't paint us all with a broad brush. It wouldn't be good for me to ignore that and make any kids feel like they can't speak up because they're in the "minority". If it eases your mind at all, we do have a resource officer (whom everybody loves!).

Thanks for your input, and I may just end up PMing you as a valuable resource as this plays out over the next couple of weeks!

[JohnLocke]

19. Spurious analogy

Yes, you are right that if someone really, really wanted to shoot up the school, they could. But why make it easier? Locking doors and taking other measures is not unlike wearing a seatbelt in a car--it will not guarantee that you will not have a fatal accident, but it sure will reduce the risk that you will.

Your analogy is spurious. Wearing a seatbelt in a car greatly prevents accidental death. Locking some doors but not others doesn't prevent anything purposeful, because anyone who had bad motives could easily enter the school anyway.

[LizW]

31. Locked doors did prevent some deaths at Columbine

Not every death, of course. But there were students who locked themselves in rooms and closets and escaped being shot.

In my childrens' schools, locked outer doors would not stop an armed intruder who really, really wanted to get in. But they do prevent a stealth entry. If someone wanted in, they would have to shoot or kick in the outer door. This would provide a warning and prevent an armed person from walking without warning into a roomful of first graders.

Locked outer doors also lessen the liklihood of a child being snatched from inside the school.

[NewHampshireDem]

39. By quoting out of context, you mischaractarize what I was saying

My analogy was to illustrate that there are times when we should take steps to minimize risk though we cannot eliminate the risk.

[Bigmack]

9. Speaking as a 30-year HS teacher...

... it's all about Control. Administrators like control... of the students.... of the staff... whatever. They want the kids in the classrooms from bell to bell, and they want them in a classroom every period. It avoids all that messy talking in the halls and unpleasant teenage interaction. To them, a building with a few hundred kids in it , and absolutely no sound, is heaven.

Add an anal-retentive school-district lawyer to the mix, and you have Stalag High School, in the Cover Your Ass School District.

Kids stand an infinitesimal chance of being hurt in school violence, especially in Nowhereville, Maine. Perhaps if school districts want to keep kids safe, they should keep the military recruiters off campus.

[NewHampshireDem]

12. Yeah, that's all it's about

:eyes:

Yeah, the extra four years of school, the late nights away from my family, the headaches of dealing with insane parents (and a few insane teachers), the ridiculous laws ... yeah, I did it all so I could keep 'control' over a bunch of kids and teachers.

Of course, I suppose one could hurl the same ludicrous charge at teachers. It really is too bad you've chosen to hijack this thread to vent your own bitterness.

[Bigmack]

14. Kid wanted to know about the lockdown...

... I answered. That's not hijacking.

30 years of observing upper-middle class school districts counts for something.

I really miss the kids... don't miss the admin suckups and fuckups at all.

[JohnLocke]

10. Mention fire safety.

It's unsafe to have doors locked. This could block a potential escape route in case of fire.

[Swamp Rat]

11. Ask your parents if you can drop out of high school and go to a university

You are very bright and write very well. In fact, you write better than many Sophomores at Tulane University (a very expensive, private university where the wealthy elite send their brats).

I hated high school, even before the security cameras, etc., so my advice should be taken with a grain of salt, especially since I was kicked/dropped out of 5-6 high schools for truancy. To me, it was like living in a prison and constantly escaping. Personally, I wish I had skipped high school and went straight to college. I'd have 2 or 3 PhDs by now. x(

I hope you peacefully and amicably work it out with your principle, and succeed in keeping your school from turning into a gulag. Did you ask him if he would mind installing security cameras over his desk, in the teacher's break room, or in every nook and cranny to watch THEM? How about TV monitors that STUDENTS control, recording every school administrator and teacher and their conversations? Of course, you be reminded that high school is not a democracy, one way or another, but he should at least hear your concerns.

Maybe you can come to a compromise. Suggest installing cameras only on the outside of the building that point to the street. Locking doors is just plain wrong AND very dangerous. The principle could be and should be held personally liable if any harm comes to a student because of a locked door.

Good luck!

[Ithuilwen]

36. Heh. Well, that's another issue

That I've certainly considered, especially because I'm tired of not having any likeminded, openminded, intelligent fellow human beings in high school. :banghead: I can't wait for college -- looking to major in a social science or two and learn a few languages, exciting stuff! -- but I've got to deal with the here and now first.

The rebel inside of me loves the idea of framing the camera issue in the way you mentioned. I just probably wouldn't go through with it for the sake of being politic. I sure wish I didn't have to compromise my ideals because of cold harsh reality sometimes.

Thanks for the input!

[Swamp Rat]

38. YES!!!

Be like me! HAHA! :D

Really, I am a musician with a couple degrees in that field, I speak a few languages, and I'm working on two grad degrees in anthropology and urban studies... oh, and I like to do all kinds of art! ;)

Dump high school - its a waste of time! x( Go to college instead, if you can. Anyway, I wish you the best ... don't let them brainwash you!

[Mz Pip]

13. I would welcome it

at the school I work in. But I suspect where I work is much different from a school in rural Maine. There seems to be sort of a one size fits all mentality to everything in education these days - from testing to security to that stupid "zero tolerance" policy that so many school are adopting. Thank Dubya and his "No Child Left Behind" policy for a lot of this. We can also thank him for the amped up paranoia that permeates our culture. Places that probably have no need for lock down adopt the policy because there is pressure to do so. I may be wrong but I suspect that there are parents or members of the communtiy where you live that support what is being done.

Where I work there are daily fights and assaults are not uncommon. There are people walking on and off campus and no one seems to have any control of the situation. We have one campus supervisor for 1700 students. Lock down is pretty much impossible since our campus is very open and there really isn't anyone who could enforce it. The best anyone has been able to come up with are ID badges that must be worn by all students and staff.

Take your concerns to the principal and to your parents. If there is enough opposition to this from parents the policy can probably be changed.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Wizard777]

15. Lock one side of the door.

You should be able to keep people out to repell invasion. You can't lock the children in. It's supposed to be a school not a death camp. A quick evacuation cannot be barred. Once bitten Twice shy.

[Ithuilwen]

18. IMPORTANT: Students *CAN* get out of the building!

I'm afraid I didn't make that very clear. The doors are only locked so that outsiders can't get in. If there were a fire or any other sort of emergency, we'd still be able to get out.

*puts away megaphone*

[alittlelark]

27. Do you hang out on message boards a lot?

[Ithuilwen]

29. Other than DU? No.

And I post here only infrequently. Most of the time I just read what others have to say.

Why do you ask? Do I come across as inexperienced? :blush:

[alittlelark]

32. I'm curious how you came to post here... my nephew posts

on many boards (senior HS) .. he almost never posts here.

You ARE NOT inexperienced. You write well. You are concise. You state your points succinctly.

[Ithuilwen]

33. Well...

Last summer I was googling for illustrative information while writing a response to a nasty e-mail a conservative friend sent me. DU was one of the sites that popped up. I was so excited when I found it, and I've been visiting ever since. Been a political animal since twelve (just turned seventeen this week), so this message board is right up my alley!

[alittlelark]

34. Cool.

[noamnety]

20. We have a similar set up in our school

Students need to cut through a short outdoor area to get from one part of the building to another. There is a longer way around, but we actually keep a locked gate in that hallway - we force the kids to cut across outside, because the other area is a daycare, and our kids, being teenagers, don't always use appropriate language for 3 year olds to hear.

The only compromise I can think of that would solve both your short cut issues and the administration's security issues is to build some sort of enclosed walkway between the two doors.

If there are other doors that will still be left unlocked besides the ones at the main entrance, then there is something else going on besides a safety concern. That would make me think they are having a problem with kids going outside and just skipping class - it might be good to directly ask if that's behind the new policy.

[WillowTree]

21. Just a few things for you to consider.

There had never been a mass murder at Columbine either..........until it happened. The time to take preventive measures is before the first incident whenever possible.

I'm assuming that when you say that doors will be "locked from the outside" you really mean that they will be locked to the outside, in other words, they will be able to be opened only from the inside, thereby preventing anyone from entering but allowing students, faculty and staff to get out in the event of an emergency. This kind of measure won't entirely prevent a "bad guy" from getting in, but it can seriously limit a person's ability to navigate, providing an extra measure of protection to those inside.

I really admire the mature and reasonable way that you're going about dealing with this. The school may not agree to alter their plans for increased security, but by sitting down and discussing it with the school admininstation, at the very least you'll have a better idea of what their rationale is.

[cally]

24. I would try to gather evidence before the meeting

Bring some stop watches and time how long it takes to go from class to class. Have a fellow student open the now locked doors so you can time your old way. Have various students do this and present the information to the Principal.

I would also ask the Principal to explain the new policy and why it's necessary before the end of school. Ask if some of this could wait until the next year so parents, teachers, students, and the school board could have more input into the policy.

I understand your concerns and I applaud how you are handling this. I also think you will lose this one. My guess is that the Principal attended a conference on school safety or was sent some report and got worried. Most schools are trying to restict outsiders from their schools. Maybe if you work together you can find a better way to achieve that goal and not make it difficult for students.

[Ithuilwen]

28. Thanks!

Those are some really great ideas, and I'll be taking my stopwatch to school Monday.

I know that (however unfortunately) we'll never go back to the way we were before this policy. I mean, if you look at it from the shallow perspective of appearance, it would look awfully bad if a security measure were taken away. I just hope that we'll be able to work something out that we can all live with!

[cally]

35. One more suggestion

Make the argument that this is an extremely stressful time for students. Many are facing graduation and preparing to leave home. Some have are borderline and can't afford to get a tardy. It's wrong to change the passing procedure until the admin can assure that students can get to class on time. With finals coming up, it's a stressful time to change school procedures this drastically. You get the idea. I'm assuming you end the school year soon.

[Ithuilwen]

37. Mmm. Even better.

Yes, it is an incredibly stressful time -- and I'm not even a senior. The two weeks of AP testing just finished up yesterday, lotsa stressed out kiddos. I think a lot of us have been just barely on this side of sanity what with the pressure, cramming, and all. I also think most kids were shocked that they came down with this policy now, with about a month of school left, without warning, and that this was why so many balked and became upset.

[Massacure]

26. From what I hear, you should try to get more time between classes.

Trying to get them to backdown from security is a huge liability for them, and they have already spend money on it from what it sounds. Getting them to change that is a longshot. I would just petition for more time between classes.

[cmd]

30. I see your point about time

My recommendation would be that the doors that must be used be monitored school personnel during change of classes.

[Maine-ah]

41. As far as I know, there have been no school shootings here.

We've had a couple of recient bomb threats, the usual "I wanted to get out of school early" situation.

We had one school where some kids talked about shooting, but nothing ever happened. Another school where a kid wrote an essay about shootings, and the reasons why they happen (he got suspended).

We didn't ever have a lock down, or cameras but I graduated in 1993, before shit like this started going down.

Depending on the size of your school, I think security cameras and lockdowns are better for the larger populations. We only had 400 kids in the highschool, so something like this wasn't necessary.

If you want to PM me, from the sounds of it, I think you are near me, and I have heard about a local school that has done this.