10th grade FSA ELA Writing

Metal detecting who?

The school board voted on Jan. 11 to purchase more metal detection wands for each school in response to an increase in incidents involving weapons brought to campus. According to Sun-Sentinel, the district reported 78 such incidents between August and November, a much higher rate than before the pandemic, the last time school grounds were full. The wands are to be used to screen students and their bookbags during random classroom sweeps.

The mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas four years ago still weighs heavy on the collective minds of our community and our district. Two school board members lost family members in the shooting.

“After 32 years of being in law enforcement and coming from Marjory Stoneman Douglas, it’s pretty much in the air,” security specialist Joseph Reyes said. “You cannot distinguish one (suspicious student) from the other.”

However, some students don’t think that this is the best idea.

“Some people could be targeted because of certain demographics, so some type of rubric should be used to tell whether or not a kid is suspicious,” said freshman Samantha Maker.

While we believe that limiting searches only to suspicious students risks targeting historically mistreated groups, we do not agree with interrupting classes with random sweeps.

There are some cases though, however, when it is smarter to keep an eye on certain students, such as one wearing a long pullover in the Florida heat.

These metal detectors cannot be cheap. This school, like others in Broward, lacks adequate personnel and materials for the cafeteria, counseling, facilities, substitutes and technology.

There has been added security over the past few years such as gates around the entrances and more security guards.

We deeply thank our security staff for keeping us safe, and we respect Reyes’ opinion: “The more tools I have at my disposal, it’s not that it makes my job easier, but it is easier to protect you guys.”

Metal detectors are not a bad idea for our school; however, our money should go somewhere else. With all things considered it is not necessary for our school at this time.

CARTOON BY NIKA MOGREN