Carroll… Fight School Lock Down

The tragic school shooting in Uvalde, TX will stay in people’s memories for a long time, as the one at Sandy Hook Elementary will not go away. Nor should they. People are still asking how, in an advanced nation like America could, school shooting after school shooting happen, and next to nothing is done. Those types of shootings also happen at high schools, which presents a greater danger because high school students are thought to be more mature than their elementary counterparts as life-changing decisions begin to come into focus. Let’s not forget that education’s most important commodity may be the students, but another commodity is teachers, who must take equal pairing in the system. When children leave home, the next safest place for them is the classroom. Students are there for 5-6 hours each day. A teacher is the one they feel most comfortable around, as many of them are parents. The education they receive is as paramount as the safety they should feel when they are away from home.

Safety is important, whether it is elementary or high school, as a tragedy can strike any place at any time. High schools can sometimes be difficult to maintain the delicate balance between providing education and safety because they tend to treat high school students differently, giving them a little more leeway in class. High schools are risky because access is so easy for many of them. Take, for example, Carroll High School in Monroe, LA. There have been times when reports of a gun on campus have led to lockdowns. Teachers and staff who “are on the front lines” are responsible for the safety of their students in the classroom. Those who work in administration may not have to deal with the stress that comes with being a teacher, as some days can be traumatic for teachers. The last thing teachers want is to be confronted by an individual walking the halls of a school carrying a gun.

Fights can/do occur at schools sometimes at the drop of a hat, as it doesn’t take long before one will hear that someone who has access to a gun is threatening to shoot fellow students. Many people feel uncomfortable with Carroll because of its proximity to the streets, where an individual is mere steps away from entering the building. Then there is concern that the school’s band room is not connected to the main building, which can make it concerning if the unthinkable were to happen. A shooting occurred not too long ago after a Carroll football game that could just as easily have happened during regular school hours. We are told that a resource officer is supposed to be assigned there on a daily basis, but sometimes that is not the case. Cameras may show where an individual is, but they do nothing when(if) the shooting starts. One would think there would be an “active shooter drill” so students would know what to do. Even though the doors to each class are solid wood, the window on each door does not offer much in the protection area. Have teachers been sufficiently drilled to know what they should do, as one source said that teachers/students were urged to “throw books” at an alleged shooter if the unthinkable happened.

Teachers can sometimes see “signs” of a troubled student that may be symptoms of a home environment or peer pressure, which is why teachers encourage students to be open with them. Sources say that Carroll is not alone, as neighboring school systems recognize their teachers as “front line” workers and reward them with benefits to show their appreciation. Perhaps, it is time for Monroe City to do the same. Does Monroe City have a plan? The community hopes so. Several months ago there was a report of an active shooter at Neville High School and reports of a gun at Wossman. Fortunately, nothing came of those two situations, but as we have seen time and time again, law enforcement usually arrives after contact is made on school grounds. Teachers need all of the information that they can get, and if they don’t have the knowledge of knowing how to interact, how will they know what to do? Teachers see many things on a daily basis from their many years of being on the job. Teachers want to be able to do their jobs, which are to help mold, guide, and educate students. The last thing that they want is to fear for their lives, as well as that of their students. At Carroll, a fight between two females led to the school being locked down due to a rumor that a family member came to the campus with a gun. Fortunately, this was only a bad rumor. Monroe City School Board, secure all schools for the safety of all students.