It's not customary in the United States to have armed guards patrolling the schoolyard and college or university campuses. Having such a military presence in those institutions would send a mixed signal to the students because learning and guns don't go hand in hand. In fact, school safety is mandatory. But is it really safer to have armed guards patrolling school campuses?
In the last few years, some schools in the United States have been the object of a lot of shootings and massacres due to a lack of safety measures. Recently, that wave of violence has diminished. Yet, school safety is highly needed. But having armed guards on the school premise is not the right way to provide security. It would probably deter some crimes, but it would also project a negative nuance. Then, the impact that the presence of armed security personnel would have on students could be academically detrimental.
In my opinion, two ways to deal with school safety issues are the following: first, It would be better to have a security system where everyone entering the school property is properly screened and monitored. Another option would be the hiring of an elite undercover security force armed with concealed weapons to patrol the school property. This link is an article I wrote a month ago about whether guns should be allowed in school: https://muse.theodysseyonline.com/admin#cms/content/809753/preview
The school system in the United States is one of the best in the world. High schools, colleges and universities recruit students abroad, and a large number of foreign students are attending those institutions in the country. It is a good business for the United States. The demand for U.S. educational service around the world is high. It is considered a monumental accomplishment for foreign students to return home, proud of having been educated in the United States.
But school safety is a non-negotiable commodity. And failure to integrate a strong security system could derail the reputation of our good education system. A college or a university campus is not a military facility where armed guards are patrolling. If it was the case, the safety those armed guards bring would also come with a price: it would undermine learning and peace of mind. Hearts would be pounding, and intimidation would be setting in.
These days, all major industrialized countries increase their budget spending for security reasons. The increased budget is partly due to fighting terrorism. But the violence perpetrated on teachers and students is a form of home-grown terrorism as well. So why is school safety being neglected? The solution would be the passage of a school safety legislation and the allocation of federal funds for that purpose. Accordingly, the implementation of a uniform security system throughout the country would reinforce students' confidence to attend at ease our prestigious school institutions.
While the presence of armed guards on a school campus makes it somewhat safe, it is also intimidating. It implies insecurity and volatility of the environment. All it takes is proper screening and monitoring of everyone entering school campus. Then, safety would be adequate, and learning would be positively impacted.
