Our Children Are Our Future

Mourners attend a candlelit memorial service, Thursday night for the 17 victims of the shooting at 

Stoneman Douglas High School. Photo: Greg Lovett / "The Palm Beach Post"

Tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida, really hits close to home for me and my family.  Leaves me wondering not so much about the guns, but rather wondering about the way our schools choose to conduct their daily business.  Our children are our future and yet we do so little to ensure their well-being in their daily school environments. Security protocols were much more stringent for my children at the elementary and even junior high levels, but when you get into the high school level security seems to become virtually non-existent.  This is absolutely crazy, because in the high school environment threats can now not only come from without, but also from within --witness the tragic school shooting in, Parkland Florida on Valentine's Day.

I don't see why we cannot secure our children the way you do a medium to large business, with proprietary concerns.  That is to say, each student and teacher should wear a digitally programmed access ID card, to be worn on their person and visible at all times.  If you don't have a card, then you don't have access period.  That way, the office has a digital footprint of who is on campus at all times. Furthermore, each school should have security checkpoints at all major entrances, where visitors can sign in and receive a temporary badge and where security personnel can check bags as needed.  A security camera system would be nice in all schools as well, but this may not be possible in all cases due to prohibitive costs. Perhaps some Federal money, ear-marked for education, needs to be diverted into a fund for setting up security protocols in our high schools?

I'm not saying we should turn our schools into prisons, however, I sincerely believe we should put some much needed accountability into the system where protecting our schools is concerned, particularly at the high school level.  Even if you took all the guns away, I strongly suspect a hurting child intent on inflicting violence upon others would find another method for unleashing their intended violence.  In light of this fact, establishing a secure environment, with real-time eyes and ears on the ground is the only way we can keep our children safe.  Isn't it high time we had this serious action-oriented discussion???

2/16/2018 I was initially hesitant to comment on the shooter in this case until I had some more information.  I can see now why my sixth sense hesitated.  As much as I grieve for the loss of young, innocent lives in this tragic school shooting,  I cannot help but think our system failed this young man.  He was clearly alone in the world and hurting and his 'salvation' was nowhere to found?  We need to do more as a society, as educators, parents and mentors to look out for these children who have been dealt unfair blows.  We need to do more to extend a hand out and up, to offer hope in hours of darkness, to provide safe spaces with answers and a path forward in times of need.  We need to teach our children not to be so judgmental, to call out others who treat their peers with cruelty and disdain.  We cannot live in a world where such little value is placed upon any human life?

I am also thinking that those who would so readily surrender their right to bear arms --as guaranteed by the 2nd amendment of our U.S. Constitution-- naively put way too much faith in those who seek power.  Benjamin Franklin's famous quote is echoing loudly within my mind as I type here in the early a.m. hours "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety."  Our founding fathers got this.  They realized that absolute power has a tendency to corrupt in the long run and  that's why they gave us the 2nd amendment. These brilliant men --and the women behind them-- foresaw that in the absence of a right to bear arms, there can be no true consent of the governed. History has demonstrated, time and time again, that quick response emotion-driven fixes often fail to address vital long term consequences. At times like these I have to wonder if the latter is a fundamental difference between modern-day Republicans and Democrats?  The former possess the ability to identify and anticipate long-term ramifications of policy issues, while the latter cannot???

3/6/2018 Watching the Boston Bruins play the Detroit Red Wings in hockey this evening.  Quite an amazing game.  Was pulling for Detroit to win.  Red Wings really gave Boston a run for their money, especially in light of the fact that Red Wings had their starting goal tender playing his debut NHL game.  Sadly, Detroit doesn't have a great record in over-time where they lost.  But still was a great game.  During the first intermission I heard that Stoneman Douglas High School --site of tragic Valentine's Day school shooting-- went on to win the Florida State Championship in hockey just 10 days after the shooting incident.  The Panthers made a surprise visit to the team and brought the Stanley Cup for a visit. Triumph in the face of adversity.  How awesome is that!