According to MHS teacher Charles Schletzbaum during a MUSD board meeting on Dec. 14, 2021, three MHS staff members were inappropriately pushed, kicked, and punched by two students on Nov. 17, 2021 while trying to break up a fight between the aforementioned students. Later, a staff member witnessed another student brag to other students about assaulting a security guard while being caught on video and making punching gestures to emphasize their point, Schletzbaum added.
On the same day, there was a gun threat during school hours at the San Jose City College extension, which is right next to MHS, Thomas Russell Middle School, and Pomeroy Elementary School. The aforementioned schools were not shut down and teachers, parents, and students were not properly notified.
As a student here at MHS, I recognize that there is a limited number of security guards that are tasked with the extremely important responsibility of supervising our very large campus which contains over three thousand students. Additionally, I have personally seen non-MHS students easily walk onto campus during school hours without ever being stopped or checked for identification. If people are able to enter school in the middle of the day without any trouble, what is stopping potential trespassers from doing the same and putting students and school staff at risk?
The two incidents that occured on Nov. 17 and the underwhelming school security that I have personally observed at MHS lead me to believe that student and teacher safety at MHS is not being prioritized and is in dire need of improvement.
To improve school safety, I suggest enforcing more stringent punishments for students who act violently towards teachers and other students. Longer suspensions and even expulsions should be considered. This will discourage violent behavior like the fight seen on Nov. 17, leading to a safer campus for both students and staff.
Another way to improve school safety is by simply hiring more security guards. With more security guards, each individual guard will be responsible for supervising a smaller area. This will make security guards’ jobs easier and allow them to focus more attentively on each of their respective locations and responsibilities. I understand that hiring more security means that there will be less money to be spent elsewhere, but I am confident that students and staff are willing to make this sacrifice to ensure their safety. I also suggest having these security guards supervise areas where it is easiest to enter school. In these areas, they should check anyone who attempts to enter campus during school hours for identification.
Students and teachers should not be in constant fear of what might happen to them while they are at school. Parents, especially, should be comfortable knowing that their children are attending a school that is secure and that prioritizes their safety. My suggestions for improving school safety at MHS may not be the best. However, I think we can all agree that the next big step in ensuring a safe learning environment at MHS is by recognizing that there is a safety problem in the first place.
