At John Dewey High School security scanning is a normal practice and its objective is to ensure student safety. The process of scanning can prove to be quite irritating and inconvenient for many students, often resulting in delays and added stress early in the morning.
Many students who arrive at school early have to stand outside the school doors for several minutes before being let inside. Long lines form outside the entrance of the school as students wait for the doors to open. Once inside students are required to put everything in their bags and remove all metal items—like rings and belts—only to put everything back on after passing through the metal detectors. Those who trigger the detectors are directed to an area for an additional hand scan, which takes more time.
Security measures are necessary according to Gabriel Piris, a security guard at the school. “Scanning is very important, otherwise kids would be able to come into the school with vapes, cigarettes, lighters, and weapons,” he states. He knows there are reasons why some students get annoyed, but he explains that “students must abide by the rules. It’s like changing your underwear, brushing your teeth, and washing your face; it’s an everyday routine.”
Although safety is the priority, students still express annoyance with the process. Julia Diaz, a freshman, says “I hate it. It is such a violation; they’re looking through everything in your bag. Because of this, I arrive late to my first-period class. I’m more stressed about starting my day because I feel rushed. Sometimes I find it hard catching up on a lesson being taught in my first period because I am late.”
Some teachers understand these concerns but believe that timeliness is still essential. Ms. Polo, a social studies teacher, stated “While students have mentioned the long lines, if arriving on time remains an issue, they should plan to come to school earlier, before lines extend outside school doors. If lateness became a constant, I would mark them as late.”
Other students, such as Junior Rosalina Weary, are impartial on the issue. “Even though it takes some time to get through scanning, I think it’s worth it if it means maintaining the safety of students and stopping students from bringing bad things into school. However, I understand why some students get annoyed by the time it takes to get through scanning.”
One possible solution could be to change the opening time for the school doors to allow students to start the scanning process sooner. By opening the doors, students who arrive early can avoid feeling rushed and risking lateness. Perhaps installing more scanning stations could also make the process move along quicker, ensuring both safety and efficiency.
These changes can help students feel less frustrated and make the scanning process feel less troublesome while maintaining the security measures that protect students in the school.
