Since last month's tragic shooting in Jonesboro, Arkansas, MASC has had several requests for information on school safety plans and school safety policies. It's understandable that this high profile tragedy has caused school officials to turn their attention to what has been or should be done in their districts to insure that plans and procedures are in place to provide a safe school environment. Prevention efforts are uppermost in the public's mind.
Violent crimes are a significant issue.
Every day while reading the newspaper, listening to the radio, or watching television, we are barraged with a litany of disturbing cases that outline just how dangerous society has become. In the past six months two students were killed and seven wounded in a high school shooting in Mississippi. Three students were shot to death in a high school in Kentucky, and just recently a Pennsylvania middle school student shot and killed a teacher. And, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Education, one in ten schools in America have had at least one serious violent incident. More and more young children have access to weapons and are using them at an alarming rate.