Philadelphia to scan middle schoolers for weapons beginning next week

Center college and elementary college college students will bear weapon screenings starting subsequent week.

“It is about maintaining our kids secure,” mentioned Chief Kevin Bethel of the Workplace of College Security.

He says for years now, they’ve had steel detectors put in in any respect excessive faculties within the district to display screen for weapons and different weapons. Nevertheless it was solely till lately that weapons started surfacing at elementary and center faculties.

“I’ve had two incidents the place weapons have come into college. I’ve one other incident the place a younger man, a younger scholar was noticed on a video firing a weapon a block from the college,” mentioned Bethel.

Starting subsequent week, the district will use hand wands or steel detectors to scan all sixth by means of eighth graders not less than as soon as earlier than the tip of the college 12 months.

In keeping with a letter despatched to oldsters, the scans can be carried out randomly at faculties by college security officers within the presence of not less than one college chief.
“I am a father of three women and my daughter graduates from highschool this 12 months. I do know what it is like, these are our kids, these are my youngsters,” mentioned Bethel.

Most mother and father we spoke with supported the transfer.

“I see younger children as younger as elementary college are getting their fingers on these weapons so I actually do really feel prefer it’s kinda vital,” mentioned Cathiana Etienne of Juniata Park.

“And the gun violence within the metropolis is loopy proper now, so I feel it is a good suggestion,” mentioned Jocelyn Baron of Port Richmond.
However some critics argue that that is over-policing that continues to criminalize youngsters.

“I feel steel detecting youngsters is type of absurd. And I imply sure conditions I may perceive it, however general? No,” mentioned Michel DiCastelnuovo of South Philadelphia.

“I do know typically it offers some folks pause however it’s not about criminalizing anybody or focusing on anybody. It is about making our people really feel secure,” mentioned Bethel.

If a scholar is discovered to have a weapon, they are going to be detained and referred to Philadelphia police.