school security

West Proviso Herald (John Huston) has an article on school security.

I have two reactions.

"The school could not control what happened on the streets of Maywood," Welch said in September 2003, adding that both Proviso East and Proviso West in Hillside have top-notch security.

I am skeptical of school security everywhere.

Often security personnel are not trained to be much of a benefit. They seem like power-tripping nags that don't have a clear idea of how to improve order in the big picture.

Also, when schools invest heavily in a security staff, teachers tend to wash their hands of discipline issues. Teachers figure it's the responsibility of the security staff. Students respond better to teachers implementing discipline. So large security staffs have the perverse effect of making discipline worse. But this helps their job security, so security personnel have a financial interest in making teachers and parents feel anxious about security.

My other point has to do with Chris Welch.

"Kids shouldn't have to worry about walking through their community, period," Welch said at the time. "We're looking into the possibility and feasibility of something called a parent patrol.

"Basically, we're looking to see if there is any grant money available that would allow us to hire parents to patrol around our school areas, particularly at Proviso East."

No such program was ever announced by the district.

Welch did not respond to telephone calls seeking comment and when approached at Monday's District 209 School Board meeting he walked away, refusing to talk to the Herald.

Chris, is this how school board presidents are supposed to behave?