Safety in schools has become a severe concern for parents and students nationwide. This year, there have been up to 32 school shootings in California alone, and this has been increasing at an alarming rate. It is time Americans take precautions regarding this grave issue, and Madera Unified School District is the first to do more and take better measures.
In August 2023, just in time for preparation for the new academic year, Madera Unified installed a new $1.4 million security system that uses sensors and artificial intelligence to find any weapons that may be concealed in a student’s bag or backpacks, which they plan to use at sport’s events and graduation ceremonies. They were heavily influenced to implement this because of the recent Oklahoma shooting at a school football game and the Covenant school shooting in Tennessee. The new security system they are using is Evolv Express, and it has also been utilized in more stadiums like SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. They call this system “less intrusive” because students are simply expected to walk through the device, and if anything suspicious is detected, the student is pulled to the side for a “targeted” search.
It is terrifying to think that these safety measures are necessary right now to save the lives of multiple students around America. Students go to school to get an education and do not need to fear that their lives might be endangered.
Even though it is a security measure, it could cause students to feel a range of different emotions. I know that I am a very anxious person. When I am put into a situation like this, even though they will find nothing incriminating against me, I get very nervous, which could result in me losing focus during school.
On the other hand, some students will view this as a way to feel more safe and reassured. They have an overall feeling of comfort and peace of mind provided by the security system. Students who think this way are more likely to comply with the rules put in place. In contrast, other students could build resentment and distrust towards security, which could also result in issues like a faulty attendance record.
The opinions on this issue are very split. At the same time, this will potentially result in a safer school environment. Some believe that it will take away our freedom and that the issue of gun violence should be attacked directly instead of making students suffer more.
