Eric, you really bring up excellent points that are clear out of my expertise. I always respect and try to look closely at your perspective and understanding of these complex issues. Thanks for sharing, I always come away with something valuable. Wishing you well, it was great hearing from you. Blessings, Jim
Ps
I would have to say that SRO's are used more punitive than pro-active, this would certainly address your research and concerns.
Eric, From the viewpoint of a parent (one in elementary and one in middle school), I can tell you that the elementary is becoming like Fort Knox (you have to buzz from outside, where a camera is installed to look you over to decide if they'll let you in...meanwhile, MY daughter is inside!).
It's less welcoming, less accessible for a parent to get to their child if there were an emergency, and I also believe a waste of resources! I am a survivor of CSA with an ACE Score of 4. The VERY LAST THING I want is to see my kids in any school where I have LESS (not MORE) access to them. I'm saying this as a parent who has complained about a certain employee doing inappropriate things w/kids during school hours only to be royally pounded at my outrageous claim (and over the summer, my daughter told me she does not trust this person - so I've given her permission to SCREAM and RUN for a trusted adult if he EVER makes her feel uncomfortable/strange/isolated/or touches her). NONE of this sits well with me. And oh by the way, someone in the front office has been talking to other staff members about having gone to a gun show and thinking she might buy a gun! This is devastating news (I was told in secrecy). There is a growing sickness in the way adults think about "safety" and the media is definitely fueling the fire, meanwhile, reality is being ignored.
I remembered this discussion and wanted to post a related article from today's medical news:Â
'Guns do not make a nation safer,' say doctors
http://acesconnection.com/profiles/blogs/guns-do-not-make-a-nation-safer-say-doctors
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Hi Jim,
I just keep thinking about how Australia handled this issue:
After a 1996 Mass Shooting, Australia Enacted Strict Gun Laws. It Hasn't Had a Similar Massacre Since
It's a compelling story.
best, chris
Â
Brenda-
Your perspective is really insightful, so thanks for sharing. You're not alone in having those feelings. Nobody wants to drop their child off at an army barracks, myself included.
I work with the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and we are planning a senate briefing in November with a focus on rethinking school safety. I believe when we think of school safety, and especially when we feel threatened, we focus on the physical safety. Unfortunately, we often neglect the importance of psychological safety.
Thanks for sharing, Brenda.
Eric, I can't wait to hear about/read about your briefing - I hope it gets national attention and some traction! As I've said to our school officials, the way to make real safety is not installing equipment, bars, locks, etc. -- it's creating safety when you strengthen the MIND. If we think of each MIND as a way of combating violence, then we all win in the end (taking care of each other would go along way towards that too). I wish you great success! I'm in your corner!
This is great Eric! I added it to the Education section of our Resource Center.
Thanks Brenda. It made it into many hands - we did some hill stomping along with the other affiliate groups, and I know it made it into the hands of several state governments. Still, this is far from 'common knowledge' at this point, as many still promote methods that have proven ineffective and even harmful to students.
As one well-respected professor once said to me, "logic and reason are great, but data are better."
Thanks Brenda. Check out our framework, which we wrote after the Newtown shootings last year. This was co-branded by six professional associations with hundreds of other organizations signing on. I was one of the lead authors, so this document really reflects my views.
Terrific! Have school districts/Boards of Education received this yet? Or has it not filtered down...really GREAT advice that people need to hear (before they reach decisions based upon fear). I love the idea of bringing silos down between education and mental health - seriously needed.
Eric-
I appreciate your efforts to clarify safety in our schools. My daughter's large high school is very diverse in economic and racial ways with an assigned police officer who is armed. Based on my daughters report and the prjnciples speeches- his presence has had a positive effect. I will stay posted on your work to educate administrators.Â
Thanks also for emphasizing the reality concerning the relationship between mental health disorders and violence .