An Essay: In Defense of Children

 

 I can recall when I transferred from a school in the suburbs to one in the urban area, particularly Brandeis, located in Manhattan.  It was my first experience with having to cross school security to enter the building.  This was quite uncomfortable and hilarious at same time because the things that happen on school lines in the morning are too funny.  I have to say that teenagers make great reality shows and the communication between hall monitors and school security is epic.  For all the school security that had to deal with us, we understand your struggle now that we are grown-ups.

The point in remembering this is the security and overwatch was well needed.  The amount of dysfunctional and abnormal behavior, outside of regular adolescent activities, is something that needs to be monitored. Various reasons from poverty, upbringing, moral values, insatiable desires, and puberty are some of the ones I could name for having students monitored.  We don’t need a school ‘FBI,” but for schools to be safe until teens can self-monitor the incidents that can and do take place amongst social groups, it is good to have that presence helping them to mature and understand when you may have crossed the line in your behavior towards your peers.  In recent years, we have seen incidents of violent nature involving weapons as well, and this cause great concern for the welfare of students on school property.  In my opinion, as society has changed, the behaviors of teens have evolved, and because of this we should be vigilant to protect students from unwarranted harassment, physical and emotional harm. 

If we are to produce well rounded individuals that will go on to productive lives, then it is incumbent upon the educational system, co-partnering with parents, to take the necessary steps to protect students from harm, which includes harming themselves.