In 2018, 80 percent of schools recorded at least one incidence of violence, theft, or other crimes. Whether we want to talk about it or not, school security is becoming mandatory in the U.S.
But how do you take the right security measures to ensure your students’ safety?
In this article, we’ll be breaking down why school security is crucial today and three tips on how to improve your school security measures.
Why Is School Security Important?
Without school safety, students are unable to learn properly and take in information effectively. Even if a child isn’t directly affected by violence, even witnessing these scenes has a real impact.
Research shows that children who feel unsafe at school perform worse academically. They’re more likely to turn to delinquency as they grow older.
As such, school security affects how safe children are in the classroom and their ability to learn effectively.
It’s hard to think about the increase in school violence, but measures need to be put in place to ensure children and faculty are all safe. But what specific strategies can you use to improve your school security?
Protecting your students and faculty is crucial, but every school faces different challenges. The following are three general tips for improving security measures in your school.
Control Access
Improving school security starts with controlling what goes in and out of the building. Schools should ideally have one to two main points of entry that are all properly monitored and controlled.
All faculty should know the protocol for guests and access systems. If someone isn’t from the school, they should be checked for foreign objects in case they’re carrying a weapon.
It’s easy to go overboard with these measures. Finding a strong balance is key if you don’t want your students to feel anxious about having too much security.
Pre-Emptive Response
A safe and understanding environment can help address school violence and security threats more holistically. Psychological first aid is a great strategy for taking this pre-emptive response.
Talking with students and evaluating possible psychological trauma can go a long way in preventing further damage. Faculty can also identify students that are going through a rough time and take immediate action.
It’s never good to leave an issue out to dry before it’s too late. Having mental health experts on-site might reduce violence down the line.
Regular Checks
If you think there are drugs or even weapons on school grounds, it’s important to take immediate action. Sniff dogs are tremendously helpful in that regard.
Dogs can sniff out drugs that are being stashed throughout the school. It’s a safe and relatively unintrusive way to improve safety.
An explosive detection dog is crucial whenever there’s a bomb threat at a school. While you hope never to have to deal with these situations, sniff dogs act as effective safety blankets.
Improve School Safety Through Effective Security Measures
School safety isn’t a simple one-way trip – there are plenty of variables and factors to consider no matter where you are. Use this article to take the optimal school security measures today.
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