November 3, 2016

Dear Future Mr./Madam President,                                                                                       

       Education is the foundation for our country’s prosperity, but as the learning environment is threatened by violence, the learning process comes to a halt. Our nation’s schools have become the subject of concern after a number of grievances dealing with security of our schools. As a junior in high school, I often find myself questioning the quality and reliability of the protection I am provided. To insure that my fellow student and I are able to focus solely on our education, I believe police should be stationed within schools to provide a safer learning environment and experience for both students and faculty members. This will decrease the amount of crimes taking place on campus, encourage good behavior and standards, and bestow a student with reassurance that they are protected.

      Every person with good prudence is aware of the fact that police reduce the presence of misdemeanors within our communities, but what about crime on school property? Students are hopefully taught good morals and values, and bans on alcohol, drugs, and guns may discourage them from taking them to school. However, this alone won’t insure that students will behave accordingly. I have known students who have successfully smuggled in such things without being caught or disciplined, even though strict rules did not permit them to do so. Having police officers will most definitely decrease the rate of student felonies, just as they do in communities every day.

      Through personal experience, I know that my fellow students and I cannot learn properly when our safety is in jeopardy. When a possibility of a threat is at large, that is what a student’s brain focuses on. According to an educational theorist Abraham Maslow, safety falls into the second most important category of human needs, making it more crucial to a person's basic needs than self-actualization, into which education would fall. If action is not taken, children’s growth will be stagnated by constant fear.

       Although many may support the implementation of police within our schools, there are some who disagree. The backlash may include increased parent concern. Minorities may feel uneasy, especially after the seemingly increasing amount of unfortunate shootings between police and protesters. This also might make the students feel as if their school has an underlying reason as to why they need to be protected. In contrast, I believe having police in schools will make children get more used to the law enforcement, and in turn, become more comfortable around them.

      Not only this, but the crime rate in our schools will decrease. Many students will be discouraged to do illegal activities if there is someone to watch over them. Students will see a change in the amount of drug use, fights, bullying, and more.

       In conclusion, I believe the stationing of police within our schools will better our educational system in a large sense. I will no longer have to worry about someone watching my back, and that someone is working within my school system to protect us.

  Thank you for your time,

  Haley M.

Works Cited

       Adubato, Steve. "Police in Schools Make Students Safer." School Safety. Ed. Noah Berlatsky. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "By Any Means Necessary: Do We Need Police in Schools?" www.njmonthly.com (11 Feb. 2013). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 4 Nov. 2016.

       National Center for Victims of Crime. "Juvenile Crime Is a Serious Problem in Schools." Juvenile Crime. Ed. Auriana Ojeda. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "School of Crime." Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 4 Nov. 2016

       McGoey, Chris. "Banning Guns Is Not Enough to Stop Campus Violence." Gun Violence. Ed. Stefan Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Contemporary Issues Companion. Rpt. from "Campus Security: Gun Violence at School." www.crimedoctor.com. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 4 Nov. 2016.

       Beger, Randall R. "The Problem with the Expansion of Police Power in Schools." School Violence. Ed. Kate Burns. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Contemporary Issues Companion. Rpt. from "Expansion of Police Power in Public Schools and the Vanishing Rights of Students." Social Justice (2002): 119-130. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 4 Nov. 2016.