Middle school age children are bringing guns to school. Obviously the larger, causative factors need to be addressed. In the short term, this will keep kids safe(r) on a day to day basis.

I don't know.......it makes the schools even more like prisons. Not saying I'm 100% against it, but I certainly don't like it. I also question how effective they really are. It's pretty simple to get something past them in buildings with as many doors and windows as schools if someone is determined.

Feels like security theater to some extent.

They have a strict door policy at the high schools where you must go through the doors with a metal detector, it does cause some back up in the mornings, but everybody goes through the metal detectors. They tightened this up recently and have adults monitoring the other doors.

Sure but how hard is it to leave a bag outside a different door or window. Or sneak in..or have a friend let you in another door. Or kids passing bags around while stressed out underpaid security guards work the door. I don't think this will be nearly as fool proof as people think. These are big old buildings with lots of moving parts and people.

I just don’t think “fuck it, there are too many work arounds - kids will get guns in to schools anyways” is the right stance to take

I didn't say fuck it. I just said not sure it will be as effective as people want it to be. And could lead to a false sense of security. Not to mention it is disruptive and makes the schools more like a prison. Raising expectations and expelling those who can't behave would do more to improve schools and improve safety then metal detectors which are less effective then you think.

I kind of see them as giving up on kids. Treat people like criminals and they will act like criminals. Maybe I'm hopelessly naive though. Wouldn't be the first time.

This is security theater it's not making people safer and is a massive waste of money that so desperately could be used to improve conditions for students, and not make them feel like criminals..

Totally agree with you on expelling kids. I was furious to learn about the school boards complete lack of respect with regards to the suggestions and referrals from their school based administrators. These principles are telling the school board. Hey, this kid is not safe to have in my building and then something like 70% of the time the school board says to them to hell with all the other kids in the building you were going to take this kid back.

I think it’ll be a disaster tbh.

Metal detectors is a placebo that will make parents feel better and students feel like they are in prison. Are we putting metal detectors at each doorway? Will windows be sealed shut so students don't bring guns through? How about fields? What prevents a kid coming in at night, hiding a gun in the field then having a shooting spree during outdoor PE or pick it up while doing outdoor PE?

Lol. Outdoor PE in RPS? Henrico has spoiled you!

RPS has been doing this in the high schools and at some of their middle schools since the ‘90’s. Every year the metal detectors find weapons. It’s not foolproof, but it’s not a new system in the city, and there is decades of data and enforcement on the matter. More school shootings happen in suburban environments than city environments and it’s directly related to schools in urban areas having tighter campus security and metal detectors.

I did not feel like the detectors I walked through every day in high school were security theater or that it made school feel like a prison

I am not discounting them entirely. I understand why they might be necessary.. although that makes me sad and I admit this could be a knee jerk reaction to that.

I mean the kids do go outside at some of the schools.

It’s terribly sad to think about

Doesn’t it do the exact opposite? It creates a bottleneck effect of the children trying to get into school and thus easier targets.

That backup in the mornings creates a massive opportunity for a school shooter.

Oh it's not already a prison?

Some of the elementary schools that don’t have Gyms go outside for PE. Some of the high schools do too also for use of the tracks, etc.

i don't like it either, but it's a symptom of guns being totally out of control in our country. fix the gun problem and the metal detectors go away,

Better than no metal detectors 🤷🏻‍♂️

"Treat people like criminals and they will act like criminals"

I think you have the order of events backwards. Act like criminals (bring guns to school), get treated like criminals (metal detectors). They wouldn't be doing this if there weren't problems.

Yeah but this treats all the kids as if they have done something wrong.

Unfortunately most laws are made to regulate the few, not the majority. Such is life.

Went to high school at RPS in the time frame you mentioned and never walked through a metal detector. I think just a few of them had them.

Yea every school that I walk/drive past in Church Hill has outdoor PE.

Yeah it’s complete security theatre. It has no real effect and costs a lot of money while also letting people think they are safe and potentially lowering their guard. All while not doing anything about the issue with school shootings in America, and not protecting students.

"we'll try everything but addressing the guns." - forever and ever.

Not all the high schools have them, even now, especially magnet schools. On the flip-flip, if you went to Governors when it was at TJ, you walked through a metal detector every day.