If you have not noticed, the arms race is heating up. But this is a different sort of
arms race. It's a race to rid the schools of arms. And the weapon of choice is the metal
detector. The tension accompanying a recent deadly shooting at a high school in Los
Angeles has spread to all school boards in North America, where some schools have
decided to use metal detectors. But are metal detectors the answer for every school in
every country? The answer to this question for canadian high schools is, as a canadian
In our country, the most common weapons found in school have been knives and
baseball bats. Deaths on campus are rare and very few of the expulsions that take place
are weapon related. Due to the moral of our country, the behaviour of our high school
students are known as one of the safer ones comparing with many other countries.
Canadian high schools have good record when it comes to the safety of the students. For
this reason, canadian high schools need metal detectors like a baldhead needs a comb.
An important question needs to be explored: Can canadian high schools ensure
the future safety of students? I happpen to believe it can. Admittedly an occasional fight
erupts. What high school doesn't have fight? But our country isn't dangerous enough to
warrant the purchase of metal detector for every high school national wise. While a metal
detector might cut down on weapons being brought on campus, we need to remember that
running a metal detector up and down someon'es body may initiate "feelings" of anger and
hostility---the exact "feelings" that may lead to fights and violence. Yet these are the
activities that metal detectors are supposed to prevent. I happen to witness a fight
recently at my night school. I have to admit that i was shocked by the fact of having such
...