By Vicki Miller

If we need police officers in our schools (SROs), then we need to make sure they are equipped with the best tools possible to protect students and themselves. It is apparent that school officials and the public in general believe the SROs are vital in protecting the safety of our children. Being well- equipped would include carrying Tasers, which research has shown improves the likelihood of a safer resolution in violent situations.

Guilford County Schools are as safe as they can be in light of our societal criminal issues. Staff and administrators are trained in ways to defuse potentially volatile situations, but the reality is our schools are a microcosm of what is happening in our community. Ninety-nine percent of all students are law-abiding and respectful, but the other 1 percent are young people who are angry and bent on disrupting the learning environment – bringing into classrooms issues that often originate in the neighborhood. Ironically, many altercations are brought into the school because there will be an audience for the kid to gain some desired recognition from his/her peers.

As a retired educator, I remain amazed that there is not a public outcry over a 15-year-old student threatening teachers and assaulting a SRO. In the past, a principal in Greensboro suffered a broken hip, and a principal in High Point went to the hospital with a head injury after breaking up fights while trying to protect students. Unless you have been present at a school fight, confrontation or assault, it would be difficult for someone to imagine how violent and dangerous these events can be.

Does it really matter where a violent outburst happens ... in a school, at the mall, in a movie theater, on the streets? Violence is everywhere, and we as a society are exposed to potentially violent events every day. We need the professional and swift protection our police and sheriff departments can provide – and if that means having a Taser at their disposal to quell a situation, then I for one am thankful for the foresight that provided the officer with this tool.

The public needs to know that every fight or confrontation, and the use of restraint or force is reported to the school district and the state to make sure proper procedures were used. The sheriff’s office and police departments also review each situation to evaluate the appropriateness of their officer’s response.

Instead of casting such a critical eye on school and police officials, perhaps it is time for us as a community to demand and expect better accountability and behavior of students. Our children and teachers deserve a safe, orderly environment in which to teach and learn. Let’s continue to make sure they have safe schools.

Vicki Miller, a retired elementary school principal, lives in High Point.