Dennie Quill, Contributor HORRIFIC SCHOOL tragedies such as the slaughtering of 200 children at a school in Beslan, Russia by terrorists, have served irrefutable notice that school safety is going to be a major concern of the 21st century.
We tend to think of Beslan, Columbine and Littleton as far away places where horrible incidents have taken place. And here in our corner of the world, we respond by shrugging our shoulders and saying out loud 'It couldn't happen here.'
I bet the people in the neatly tucked away district of Snowdon, Manchester did not ever think a criminal would force his way into their basic school, stab the teacher several times while her group of innocent infants look on, then make off with her handbag. But that is what happened to Ionie Richards this week, according to newspaper reports.
"We are in serious times," declared Travert Spence, president of the Manchester Principals Association. Yes indeed, we are in serious times and we are now forced to deal with problems in our schools which we never dreamt of in the past.
LONG-LASTING EFFECT
Nationwide, there have been violent incidents in our schools where the victims have included students and teachers. However, this incident which took place at Snowdon may have a long-lasting negative effect on these three and five-year- old students.
It will also have a great effect on the entire teaching community with children being afraid to attend school, teachers being scared to teach while looking over their shoulders and parents being paralysed by fear every day their child leaves home to attend school.
Schools are supposed to be fun places. In many rural schools, open classroom is the norm, as teachers try to create a stimulating and pleasant environment where children can learn. Many will now have to rethink their strategies in the face of attacks by brazen criminals.
The people of southern Manchester must surely be asking themselves a number of questions. Who could have done this horrible deed? Is it a stranger or someone we know? Did noone see him enter or leave the compound? Did noone recognise him? These questions will be turned over in people's minds for a long time.
People must now understand that we are in a new era of workplace safety, including school campuses. The time has come for communities to focus on specific ways to improve safety in their schools.
The reality is that our schools have the largest gathering of people in most communities during day time. There is little funding for security and most schools are ill-prepared to defend themselves against the evil forces out there.
The school community includes school boards, PTAs and Neighbourhood Watches and other community-based organisations who must now direct their energies to the business of making the school environment safer and more conducive to learning.
NO SIMPLE SOLUTION
The solutions may neither be cheap nor simple. Among some of the solutions tried by some institutions is the installation of metal detectors and web cameras as well as the appointment of school security officers. In many cases, schools now look like prisons rather than learning centres. One-way passages may solve one problem but create others, say in case of fire or other disaster where evacuation could be hampered.
The government's recently launched Safe School initiative is an obvious response to school turmoil which has been slowly building up over the years. But it is impossible to have police officers in every school.
The Minister of Education has called for community involvement and she should get every possible co-operation. Sadly, the partnership between many communities and their schools has been very weak.
Where there is no community vigilance and pride in the school, vandalism is rife and safety concerns are magnified. Examples of trespass and property damage speak volumes of the attitude of communities towards their schools.
Dennie Quill is a veteran
journalist.
