Metal detectors in schools not necessarily the answer

Introducing metal detectors in local schools to check for weapons in the bags of school children or on their person, is not necessarily the answer to curbing violence in schools.

Shawn Clarke, CEO of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development (SCPD) and this island’s Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme Consultant whose charitable organisation works with the island’s at-risk youth in schools, suggested the above recently. His comments came amidst reports that a 16-year-old student was fatally stabbed by another student, a 15-year-old, at the Frederick Smith Secondary School, just recently.

Whilst pointing out that in the same way emphasis is placed on teaching students various academic subjects in schools, conflict resolution and life skills in general must be taught to help students address their anger, Clarke noted that he is not against the installation of metal detectors as part of the solution, but the devices alone will not resolve the problem.

Noting that due to the nature of many local school compounds, they may prove hard to police, he suggested that students bent on bringing a weapon to school could easily stash that weapon on the school compound and retrieve it as they see fit, Clarke stressed that school compounds would need to be made more secure before metal detectors are installed.

“I am not against them, but I don’t think that the introduction of metal detectors in our schools is the answer, because the layout of our school plants is not conducive to the metal detectors. Because (with most schools), it’s an open (plant), so you can walk around the back of the school, put your weapon through the fence, then come back around, pass through the metal detector and get your checks and everything, suggesting you are good. You can then go and retrieve that weapon to do what you have to do,” Clarke stated.

“So with the layout of our plants, I don’t know if the metal detectors will be money well spent. We will definitely need first and foremost, I think, to look at securing these school compounds and then look at the investment in the metal detectors,” Supreme’s CEO remarked. (RSM)