Radio Smart Talk: School safety

Radio Smart Talk for Tuesday, March 26:

One of the safest places for children is at school. School violence has been declining since 1990. The Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice indicates that during the 2008/2009 school year, 83% of the nation’s schools reported no serious violent crime.

On the other hand, there have been at least six mass shootings at schools (not including college campuses) since 1989, including the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut last December where 20 children were shot and killed.

The Sandy Hook shooting resurrected the national debate on guns. It’s a discussion that continues and probably won’t subside for some time.

What Sandy Hook also did was shine a spotlight on school safety. Many educators and schools across the country have re-examined their policies and security to guard against a similar incident. Some have gone as far as and still others are discussing putting armed guards in schools or arming teachers.

Tuesday’s Radio Smart Talk will focus on school safety.

Our guests will be Donald Smith,Emergency Planning and Response Management Coordinator with the Center for Safe Schools, Dr. Don Bell, superintendent of the Northern Lebanon School District, and state Rep. Mike Regan (R-York), who has introduced a bill to allow armed retired police officers in schools for security.

Listen to the program:

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