VIEWPOINT 10 Should Westhill do more to keep us safe? YES Aaron Katz and Lawrence Kubli Staff Reporter and Staff Writer Safety has long been one of the most controversial topics in the school setting. In an area where crime rates have remained high, it has become increasingly important to protect the city’s students, especially at the high school level. Although the administration has taken many steps to create a safe environment for the entire student body, such as install- ing cameras and security guards, there is still more to be done. Just 11 full-time security guards manage the entire stu- dent body, which works out to over 200 students per guard, an overwhelming number. Security guard Darlene Birch said, “Se- curity does everything we can do. We’re understaffed...we need more [guards] and for the kids to be more informative.” Many times each day, secu- rity guards are absent in heavily congested areas like the courtyard entrance to the Freshman building or the Media Center hallway. Other safety concerns at Westhill, like the complete ab- sence of a security guard in the Agri-Science building (which at times can harbor over 100 stu- dents) or the incessant pulling of the fire alarm, need to be fixed in the near future. One of the most prolific problems is the never-end- ing theft of valuable electronics during gym class. With the locker room debacle last spring where 2-3 locks were being cut off each day, the administration must step up its efforts to thwart theft. Yet another problem is the fights. According to freshman Jennell Barrett, “[The security guards] should be around more to keep Westhill safe.” Should the students of Westhill be subject to fights in the hallway, making stu- dents who aren’t involved late for class or caught up in the scene that the fights create? If one searches “Westhill” on YouTube, the first suggestion to appear in the drop down menu is “Westhill fights.” Is this the Westhill that we want people to think of when they hear about our school? The January shooting in Tuc- son, Arizona, where six people were killed and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was critical- ly injured, demonstrated to our country that the security measures at large public gatherings, such as schools, need to be reviewed and improved. This tragedy raises the issue of the prevalence of weap- ons in the school environment. However, it does not appear that the administration has any way to check for weapons. What about metal detectors? At Bridgeport Central, metal de- tectors are a daily routine for stu- dents entering the building. While this is an extreme, it shows that there is still more that Westhill can do to keep us safe. The lack of any mention in the Westhill Student Handbook of a discipline policy for violence truly shows how safety has be- come less of a priority than the academic and social goals the ad- ministration is trying to achieve. The inability of the school to consistently provide a safe envi- ronment should be of immediate concern. Whether it is more secu- rity guards patrolling the hallways or student pat-downs after any confrontation involving security guards, Westhill needs new and improved safety measures. Westhill’s reputation as a de- sirable place for parents to send their kids is severely damaged by the level of violence that can exist here. Westhill needs to recognize that safety is the highest priority for preserving the strong academ- ic, athletic, and social traditions we have. Safety has always been a pressing issue at Westhill. With over 2,300 students, there is good reason to request more security measures around school. However, others make the argument that we have to learn to navigate this world on our own—dangers included. Should Westhill take additional measures to ensure a safe learning environment? 2,339 students 89 fights/battery 14 personally threatening behaviors 71 physical/verbal confrontations 1,662 students 37 fights/battery 9 personally threatening behaviors 41 physical/verbal confrontations 2,839 students 92 fights/battery 9 personally threatening behaviors 41 physical/verbal confrontations Stamford High Danbury High Westhill On the lookout Statistics courtesy of the Connecticut State Department of Education. Based on the 2008-2009 school year. KEEPING WATCH Security cameras monitor activity in the freshman gymnasium, art department, front entrance, and basement (clockwise from top left). Elissa Miolene / Photo Manager
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Mar 09, 2016
2,339 students 89 fights/battery 14 personally threatening behaviors 71 physical/verbal confrontations Safety has always been a pressing issue at Westhill. With over 2,300 students, there is good reason to request more security measures around school. However, others make the argument that we have to learn to navigate this world on our own—dangers included. Should Westhill take additional measures to ensure a safe learning environment? Aaron Katz and Lawrence Kubli
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Transcript
Viewpoint10
Should Westhill do more to keep us safe?
YESAaron Katz and Lawrence Kubli
Staff Reporter and Staff Writer
Safety has long been one of the most controversial topics in the school setting. In an area where crime rates have remained high, it has become increasingly important to protect the city’s students, especially at the high school level.
Although the administration has taken many steps to create a safe environment for the entire student body, such as install-ing cameras and security guards, there is still more to be done.
Just 11 full-time security guards manage the entire stu-dent body, which works out to over 200 students per guard, an
overwhelming number. Security guard Darlene Birch said, “Se-curity does everything we can do. We’re understaffed...we need more [guards] and for the kids to be more informative.”
Many times each day, secu-rity guards are absent in heavily congested areas like the courtyard entrance to the Freshman building or the Media Center hallway.
Other safety concerns at Westhill, like the complete ab-sence of a security guard in the Agri-Science building (which at times can harbor over 100 stu-dents) or the incessant pulling of the fire alarm, need to be fixed in the near future. One of the most prolific problems is the never-end-ing theft of valuable electronics during gym class. With the locker
room debacle last spring where 2-3 locks were being cut off each day, the administration must step up its efforts to thwart theft.
Yet another problem is the fights. According to freshman Jennell Barrett, “[The security guards] should be around more to keep Westhill safe.” Should the students of Westhill be subject to fights in the hallway, making stu-dents who aren’t involved late for class or caught up in the scene that the fights create? If one searches “Westhill” on YouTube, the first suggestion to appear in the drop down menu is “Westhill fights.” Is this the Westhill that we want people to think of when they hear about our school?
The January shooting in Tuc-son, Arizona, where six people
were killed and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was critical-ly injured, demonstrated to our country that the security measures at large public gatherings, such as schools, need to be reviewed and improved. This tragedy raises the issue of the prevalence of weap-ons in the school environment. However, it does not appear that the administration has any way to check for weapons.
What about metal detectors? At Bridgeport Central, metal de-tectors are a daily routine for stu-dents entering the building. While this is an extreme, it shows that there is still more that Westhill can do to keep us safe.
The lack of any mention in the Westhill Student Handbook of a discipline policy for violence
truly shows how safety has be-come less of a priority than the academic and social goals the ad-ministration is trying to achieve. The inability of the school to consistently provide a safe envi-ronment should be of immediate concern. Whether it is more secu-rity guards patrolling the hallways or student pat-downs after any confrontation involving security guards, Westhill needs new and improved safety measures.
Westhill’s reputation as a de-sirable place for parents to send their kids is severely damaged by the level of violence that can exist here. Westhill needs to recognize that safety is the highest priority for preserving the strong academ-ic, athletic, and social traditions we have.
Safety has always been a pressing issue at Westhill. With over 2,300 students, there is good reason to request more security measures around school. However, others make the argument that we have to learn to navigate this world on our own —dangers included. Should
Westhill take additional measures to ensure a safe learning environment?
2,339 students89 fights/battery14 personally threatening behaviors71 physical/verbal confrontations
1,662 students37 fights/battery9 personally threatening behaviors 41 physical/verbal confrontations
2,839 students 92 fights/battery9 personally threatening behaviors41 physical/verbal confrontations
Stamford High
Danbury High
WesthillOn the lookout
Statistics courtesy of the Connecticut State Department of Education. Based on the 2008-2009 school year.
KEEPING WATCH Security cameras monitor activity in the freshman gymnasium, art department, front entrance, and basement (clockwise from top left).
Elissa Miolene / Photo Manager