Will ID Countywide ID Cards Contribute To School Safety?
Written by Deborah J Thomas
Filed under: High School, K-6, News, People Involved, School Grade Level, School Safety Issues, Security, Students
I think I wrote a post about ID cards some time ago. I even seem to remember posing a similar question – will these cards increase school safety? Once again, this question is raised as another county looks at the possibility of instating such a measure. The Boward County School Board in Miami Florida is considering implementing such a policy in the interest of school safety:
For years, thousands of Broward middle and high school students have worn a not-particularly cool accessory on their way to class: an ID badge.
Convinced of their safety value, the Broward School Board wants every middle and high school student to wear the badges within two years.
At a workshop Tuesday, board members discussed the idea, which is now built into their strategic plan.
”If there’s one thing you can do to protect your campus, it’s to know who’s on your campus,” said school district security chief Joe Melita.
Under the plan, students would be required to wear the ID badges on lanyards around their necks beginning with the 2010-11 school year. That would give district officials time to study the cost and come up with penalties for students who don’t wear them.
What is the specific rationale behind this move?
Board member Stephanie Kraft would like to see the badges required much sooner.
”It helps to identify who belongs on campus and who doesn’t. It’s simple to institute,” Kraft said. “It makes it safer for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is if there is an accident or incident, you know who the kid is who is lying there hurt or worse. Also, if you catch a kid doing something wrong, you know who it is.”
Looking at the issue from this point of view, ID cards can indeed help. It will be much easier to identify people who are not supposed to be inside the campus. But if we were to look at another aspect – that of students causing the harm – would ID cards work as well? I seriously do not think so. Then again, just because ID cards cannot protect students a hundred per cent does not mean that they should not be used, right? It may not be cool to constantly wear an ID but not being cool is better than being exposed to more danger. But that’s just me.
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