Localizing a nation-wide epidemic

Localizing a Nation-wide Epidemic

By: Will Felts

March 28, 2018

2018 by the numbers people need to know: 1, 17, 27, 83. Since January 1, 2018, there have been just 83 days in the year so far, near to three months. In those 83 days, there have been 17 school shootings in the United States, where 27 lives have been lost. That’s on average more than 1 school shooting per week.

According to the World Health Organization, the life expectancy on average for male or female in the United States is 79.3 years.

Based on the ages of those killed in school shootings this year, whether it be students, teachers, employees, in total, 1,512.5 years of life has been lost in just 83 days.

The 17 shootings have spanned every region of the United States, with 10 of them happening in the Southeast.

Why has this happened and what can prevent this from happening for the 18th time this year?

Localizing the Issue

One of those Southeast school shootings took place in the Triad area, at Wake Forest University on January 20th, as the shooting resulted in one casualty.

One of those Triad cities, is High Point, North Carolina. Just three and a half months ago, in December, there were two shots fired at High Point Central High School, as two teens were charged in the shooting incident, with assault with a deadly weapon, even though no injuries were reported.

High Point Central, as well as Ferndale Middle School, within a short walking distance of each other, were placed on lockdown after the shots were fired.

Source: Google Maps

No one that was contacted at Ferndale Middle School wanted to speak on the recent issues.

Just a mile away from Ferndale Middle School, is Operation Xcel, an afterschool enrichment program. One of the schools the kids of Operation Xcel filter in from is Ferndale Middle School. Quay Weston, head tutor at Operation Xcel High Point, shared his opinion on what he thinks the solution should be.

“The solution I would offer would be weekly counseling for students, check-ins throughout the week, and check-ins with the parents about student behavior, home life etc. Maybe even starting home visits each week by school admin or teachers to bridge the gap between students, school, and home. Building rapport with the parents which also gives you insight on their home life in some way,” Weston said.

Schools around the nation, as well as after-school enrichment programs, like Operation Xcel, and their staff, know the added importance of the safety of their students, with the recent school shootings taking place. Charlene Gladney, Executive Director of Operation stressed that importance.

“Providing a safe, nurturing environment continues to be a top priority. At Operation Xcel youth can share their feelings and be heard. The youth are encouraged to leave their worries at the door and just be all that they affirm to be from 4 to 7 pm,” Gladney said.

While the factor of city environment and crime rates don’t relate to school shootings, Weston also followed Gladney’s words by saying that it is his duty along with the other staff members to make sure the students, parents, community members are safe, in a high-risk area for drug and gun violence that High Point has.

The city of High Point ranks as one of the highest crime rated cities in America, in relation to cities of all sizes, from the smallest towns to the biggest cities. According to NeighborhoodScout.com, within North Carolina, 83% of communities have a lower crime rate than High Point.

Solutions to the Shootings

From gun control, better monitoring of students’ lives outside of school, to expanding schools’ security measures, there have been many expressed opinions and options to reduce school shootings, in a time where resolution is most needed.

Laura Smith, a current Education major at High Point University, and an aspiring elementary school teacher shared her view on what schools need to do, to protect the future of their students.

“More security in schools would be the first step. Having a security guard in the school would be a good step. Most schools are moving that way. As crazy as it sounds having locked front doors. Schools around here are just starting to put this in. This prevent people from being able to walk in whenever they want,” Smith said.

At the family-oriented enrichment program that Operation Xcel is, Bannister mentioned how most doors at Xcel remain locked, as the only door that does remain unlocked is the front door where the parents/guardians of the students come and pick up their children.

Source: Google Maps

Smith’s solution, as it is widely considered by many others, of having security personnel outside, or in schools is possibly the least controversial solution that schools could take.

There has been much debate between two other solutions of possibly providing teachers with guns, or about enhancing the mental stability of students.

“I love teaching but I don’t think that I signed up for carrying a gun in school with me. Also, from a students standpoint, it can be scary if your teacher has a gun. I think students feelings could change about their teacher. Last, kids today get their hands on guns outside of school, so now we bring them in school in a safe in the room, I think that students could find ways to get them,” Smith said.

An importance like no Other

The importance is the students’ safety, described by Weston, Gladney and Smith.

“Our students should be protected and we do have drills and practices for protection if any situation may arise. I do feel much more responsible for their safety and educating them on the importance of expressing themselves and talking to us and staff at school about bullying, fights, threats, and strange behavior from students and others, Weston said.

Measures are taken to ensure that safety, as Weston described how he attends school meetings, speaks with the school counselors of the students that attend Xcel, and attend any sit-in meetings between a student who may be in trouble with the administration at the school.

“I will do everything possible to keep them in a safe space. So yes, I feel a great responsibility to protect our kids at Operation Xcel,” Weston said.

Teaching takes a certain passion, and it is evident that there is much more of an importance to keep up with student’s daily lives, outside of the classroom because of the recent school shootings.

“It takes a selfless person to go into this profession and I will continue to be passionate about this. Yes, the recent shootings are scary but it only motivates me to be a provider for my future students. When we take on this job we know that we are not only a teacher but we are a protector, helper, leader, and friend,” Smith said.

An importance on student safety is evident. The problem at hand, especially in the early year of 2018 is evident. A needed action is evident through what those at Operation Xcel and Smith had to say.

What will be that needed action? We will have to wait and see.