With the number of school shootings and violent crimes on the rise in schools, schools are looking for ways to reduce these events. One method is through hiring security and police officers to inspect students as they walk through the doors. However, schools can reduce the number of security officers they need by allowing teachers and other faculty members to utilize metal detectors. Not only can these be used at the school itself, but also at sporting events and other school functions.



In fact, simply think of all the areas that a student would be able to stash some sort of weapon in the school building without being detected. Most students are only required to go through metal detection in the mornings. But how often do students have to go back through the metal detection process after school has started? Some schools allow students to leave campus for lunch, this opens the door to students being able to sneak weapons in and out of the building through auxiliary doors and even front doors if the school does not have adequate security throughout the day.

By supplying teachers with metal detectors, they are able to check each student before they come into their classroom. More teachers can be available to monitor side doors and other doors that may not be watched during other times of day. Other school faculty members such as janitors, counselors and office employees would be able to help out in enforcing school security. The more people who are on duty and the more metal detectors that are available means that students will not be able to sneak in and out doors, hide guns in lockers or backpacks and will be checked throughout random times during the day, thus increasing the security of the school.

Violent acts happen in schools and they are not limited to the hallways, cafeteria or commons areas. These acts also occur school functions and sporting events. It is difficult to manage a large amount of people, but with metal detectors at every entrance a school is able to protect students and their families to the best of their abilities. There are many teaches and faculty that attend school functions and athletic events on a regular basis. Why not ask them if they would be willing to volunteer some of their time to ensure safety at their function? Many faculty members would be more than happy to rotate metal detecting the entrances at these events and would be honored to help protect their students.

Teachers and faculty are often close to their students as they see them day in and day out. They not only want their students to be safe but they would also like to attend school functions with the peace of mind that one of their students is not going to commit a violent act on them because they failed a test or just don't like the teacher.

Schools are also using metal detectors to detect cell phones and other electronic devices that they are not allowed to have. Students, however, have become quite savvy and this is something that schools need to remember. Several students have learned that they can place their cell phones behind belt buckles and blaming the belt buckle for the metal detector going off. Girls are hiding their phones in their bras because they know that security guards and teachers will not look there. They simply blame it on their underwires or metal buttons. Students are going to school to learn, so schools should expect them to be creative and to try and fool the metal detectors and they should be prepared for these situations.

There are several handheld metal detector models available. They are relatively inexpensive, costing only $60 to $80 each. Metal detectors are regularly used by law enforcement officers and security personnel, but this doesn't mean that those are the only people who can implement this technology. They are very sensitive and the sensitivity can be easily adjusted. They are able to detect metal objects as small as a quarter, so guns, knives and other weapons are easily detected. When metal is detected a high-pitched tone is emitted.

Metal detectors provide a peace of mind for every individual involved in a school atmosphere. Even those parents that do not believe there should be metal detectors in school have the peace of mind that their students are being protected against those students who do try to bring weapons to school. Parents who have children that may want attempt to bring weapons to school know that there students will be caught and must suffer the consequences. Teachers and faculty are able to rest assure that when they walk into their classrooms they too are safe from violent acts that may be focused against them. Students are also able to attend school without having to worry about other students pulling a gun or knife on them when they do not agree with each other. It is a win-win situation for everybody involved.