Should schools use metal detectors to help protect their pupils?

Topic:
Education Debates

19 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
74% of users

  • Yes, I think that schools should use metal detectors to help provide a safe educational environment for students, staff and faculty.

    I feel that metal detectors are an excellent means of providing non-invasive security in the school environment. The efficient use of metal detectors is a viable means of eliminating guns and other weapons from being brought into schools and school-sponsored events. Additionally, the use of metal detectors is race neutral. Their use ensures that every student is treated the same, when it comes to the security screening process.

    Yes G4rwIsdead

  • I agree that schools should use metal detectors in order to help protect their pupils, because it is their responsibility to.

    I believe that schools have a responsibility to not only provide an education, but also provide a safe place for students to learn, as well. Areas that are hard hit with crime or gang activity have a responsibility to do their best to limit weapons from entering the schools. This is a minimal invasion of privacy, with the benefits far outweighing any personal loss of freedoms.

    Yes FunnyCarlo99

  • Students should face similar restrictions and protections as non-schooled citizens.

    Students should be similarly restricted, just as regular individuals are. No freedoms are really being stripped of students by being forced through a metal detector, while the potential for increasing the safety of students is dramatically increased. While alternative ways to cause damage surely exists, any attempt that reasonably and quickly can reduce this risk should be taken. This practice generally works for other citizens, for example, traveling via air transport. If the funding exists to easily implement a quick and non-intrusive check to help insure the safety of thousands of children, it should be pushed forward without any restrictions.

    Yes FlutteringWilber35

  • I think schools should use metal detectors to protect their pupils, because they have just as much a right to protect people as airports, courthouses, and police stations do.

    Schools have just as much of a right to protect people as airports, courthouses, and police stations do. If a school thinks they need to implement a metal detector in order to protect their pupils, then by all means, let them do it. Our children may go to that school one day, and they deserve to be protected.

    Yes SeriousNestor34

  • Schools should use metal detectors to help protect their pupils.

    Schools should use metal detectors to help protect their pupils. Weapons in school are a serious threat to both students and teachers. Schools should take every step available to reduce the number of weapons in schools. A good first step would be a single strike policy - that is, if a student brings a weapon to school, that student is permanently expelled from that school with no appeal.

    Yes JamieM

  • I support the use of metal detectors in schools, because it would keep weapons out of the schools and keep the students safe.

    I feel that putting metal detectors in schools is a reasonable way to keep weapons out of schools. There are too many instances of a student bringing a gun to school, and someone gets hurt or killed. It would be a minor inconvenience to put them in schools. The cost would be worth it, if it saves even one person.

    Yes NecessaryAdam

  • Metal detectors are a good front line in safety provided they are operated by trained professionals.

    Metal detectors are a standard for non-invasive security at most public events and locations. With the increase in gun related crimes in our schools, it would make sense to use them. Metal detectors at every entry door eliminates any whining about racial profiling or discrimination. If trained professionals were operating the detectors, and there was an established plan in force to deal with any positive hits, I believe gun crimes in our schools could be reduced. And another positive is that the children would become accustomed to this type of screening process. They will be screened in various ways throughout their lives, so why not start in the schools since they are required by law to attend?

    Yes EweIICist

  • I support the use of metal detectors in the schools. Anything that would help in protecting the kids from harm should be used.

    In this violent and disturbed times, there is very little security for our lives. Especially our kids are the ones who are the most threatened. Terrorism in public places and schools is becoming more and more frequent every year. Installing metal detectors would cost a huge amount of money and cause many inconvenience, but for a better security for the kids it is a small price to pay.

    Yes SocialGalv

  • Metal detectors are necessary to detect weapons and are worth it to keep students and staff safe.

    Metal detectors are a very necessary and unfortunate part of most public schools. Violent incidents in public schools involving weapons has increased steadily over the years. We just can't depend on parents knowing what Johnny has in his backpack before he leaves for school. The security far outweighs the expense or privacy breach.

    Yes Gri5Helpful

  • Unfortunately in today's world metal detectors are a necessary evil.

    It is important that schools utilize any legal means necessary to ensure our children are safe. Metal detectors do decrease violence at schools. They help prevent students from bringing guns and other weapons to school. The metal detectors may not look good and they may make the school seem dangerous but they are necessary. With the number of students who have attacked other students in recent years, it is a necessary evil. The world is changing and schools must change with it.

    Yes VasilBuddy

  • I support the use of metal detectors in our schools as they are an important step in the effort to protect our students.

    I believe that all entrances and exits in public schools should be protected with a metal detector. This would alert school officials to the presence of guns or other weapons a student or other individual is attempting to smuggle inside the school. This small invasion of the student's rights can be an effective tool in the prevention of large scale student violence in our schools. Additionally, metal detectors do not cause any harm to the students or the school when they are used in an appropriate manner. The lives of our student's are worth the small intrusion and expense that metal detectors require. The use of metal detectors could save many student's lives.

    Yes VampireShu

  • Nowadays crimes are on the increase and the use of metal detector in the school is desirable.

    Crimes are reported in many educational institutions on many part of the world. Parents are not sure whether their children will return from the school in the evening or not. Children of criminal mind is taking the opportunity of harassing, horrifying,ragging and even dare to kill other students and teachers. Political intervention in school is the main reason behind such unfortunate events which is highly objectionable. Many schools and colleges around the world have prohibited any political interference inside the school compound. But crimes are on the increase. Therefore I strongly wish to have metal detector in schools.

    Yes BurnaCute

  • Metal detectors should be used in schools, because children are at an age where bad judgement could be unavoidable.

    As a child, I did not have the moral sense to know that hurting someone because they slightly annoyed me was wrong. The only reason I never acted on my desires to get revenge was the fear of punishment from the teachers and my parents. Some students may not be afraid of punishment, and could have the audacity to bring a weapon to school. Although these incidents are rare, they have happened before, and will happen again. A metal detector will catch these children before they make a life ruining decision.

    Yes 5cr33Kend

  • Yes, schools should use metal detectors to protect the students from one another.

    Without metal detectors, students can bring weapons into school grounds. By putting in metal detectors you have a chance to keep students safe from one another or from someone coming on campus trying to cause harm.

    Yes ShoPPingCuIIy
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No
26% of users

  • No, schools should not use metal detectors to help protect their students, because there are far too many metal objects brought in and out of school, and it would just cost money and cause problems with little added protection.

    There are tons of ways a routine search by a metal detector could be circumvented and do little to provide extra security against the true threats. Anyone planning to really cause a problem will find a way to get around a metal detector, especially if the guards are put into a routine of scanning thousands of students every day. This, combined with the amount of time and money that would be wasted, makes the idea worthless.

    No H_Baird

  • Schools should not use metal detectors because students who want to sneak in weapons will find a way to get past security measures.

    Students who really want to bring a weapon to school will find ways to cross the metal detector, including sneaking in through windows and unlocked back doors. The cost to purchase and maintain detectors, and time it takes to search students, takes away from valuable funding and instructional time.

    No WardGrad

  • Beyond the philosophical debate, the logistics are a nightmare.

    Metal detectors are not a panacea for school violence. Most school violence happens outside the building on the grounds. The stuff that does happen inside is typically planned in a way that could be intervened upon with proper human relations training. Metal detectors are extremely expensive, not just to buy, but to operate, staff, continually train that staff, repair, and replace. It slows down students and makes them late for class (tardy students are already a big problem!). Most schools have over a dozen entrances that cannot be locked down (due to fire code), and what about windows? Do you think the Fire Marshall is going to let you lock down all the ground-floor windows too? A student who really wants to do damage will find a way to get that weapon in the school, and we need a more comprehensive security plan with trained adults who can recognize warning signs. Granted, there won't always be warnings. Just yesterday there was a school shooting two miles from my house that I don't think they could have prevented. Metal detectors won't prevent situations like that, and I can only hope that the school does not cave to parents and community leaders who want some tangible change to the physical security. That is NOT the answer. Better relationships with the students, parent outreach, and support programs are a WAY better plan for thousands of dollars that metal detectors would require both up front and in the long run.

    No Anonymous

  • I think using metal detectors will make schools seem more dangerous and imposing, making people not want to go there.

    While I don't have verifiable evidence of my belief that a metal detector will make people not come, I believe that I have seen a decrease in the amount of people traveling by plane since the use of metal detectors has become more strictly enforced. Also, I believe that for some it is an invasion of privacy issue that will cause them to not want to send their children, as well as the thought that the school is probably dangerous if they need metal detectors so why should I send my kids there.

    No MariaR

  • Treating children like criminals creates a poor learning environment

    There is little rational basis for extreme reactions, like using metal detectors, to rare incidents of school violence. It creates an environment of suspicion and distrust between the students and the adults responsible for educating them. It also wastes money in ways unlikely to protect students in a substantial way and merely creates an illusion of safety that may, in fact, make schools less safe by giving educators a false impression of having taken meaningful action against school violence. This could lead to less action being taken in those ways that are actually effective (like counseling for students in difficult living circumstances and from troubled homes).

    No M0ttGinger
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Should schools use metal detectors to help protect their pupils?
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