The group here is so diverse that I am interested to see what you think, parents and non parents.

In my opinion? Not very. Even at the ones that DO have metal detectors and in some cases armed guards, nuts still get in, and then what? Lockdown, everybody is trapped inside the building, and what if you already have a psycho in there with you? My mother went to school during the Cuban Missile Crisis and told how they used to be locked in the school even back then, which poses the question what if they had to get out and couldn't? What good did it do treating them like prisoners then?

I don't think anywhere you might go is safe, a movie theatre, a shopping mall, walking down the block, no matter where you go there is always a potential danger of something happening but you can't live your life worrying about that or you will never leave your house.

It largely hinges on how safe the overall area is. If the community is one of hard living adults, and abusive, absentee or negligent parents, then the school(s) in the community are gonna reflect it.

JM130ELM wrote:

It largely hinges on how safe the overall area is. If the community is one of hard living adults, and abusive, absentee or negligent parents, then the school(s) in the community are gonna reflect it.

Agreed. Schools are a product of their surrounding community. If the area overall is one that lacks care, and is home to a bunch of apathy and rift-raft, then the schools will be too. The same kids being neglected by their parents are the same kids who walk that area's school halls.

Just as 'safe' as anywhere else. Like JM, the schools reflect the community.

I guess we need to define "safe." lol

That depends on your demographic. If you happen to be and openly gay teenager, apparently it's not very safe at all!

They can be a lot better of course, but I'm not cynical and paranoid about them all....because before you can ask how safe American schools are, first you gotta ask about the safety of the streets, neighborhoods, malls, etc.

I feel like they are one of the safer places that our kids could be. None of the teen aged shootings in our area have been at schools, they have all been at city parks, gas stations or the mall.

Lesser violence happens, I'm sure, as it does any where that hormonal people with little life experience congregate, but I don't think that most schools are particularly unsafe.

Captain Bryce, I agree that gay teens are bullied more than other teens, but I think that they are probably bullied just as much wherever they go and are exposed to bullies.