The number of school shootings in recent years has brought school security issues to the forefront of the minds of educators and policymakers. School leaders have explored and implemented several preventative measures, including increased security — installing buzzer systems, surveillance cameras and metal detectors, among other tools. The effectiveness of these measures remains debatable, however, and hardening schools too much can have chilling effects on students. By looking increasingly like prisons, the learning environment and school culture can shift drastically, the school-to-prison pipeline can be amplified and anxiety levels can rise among students and staff.
