Millard House II, Prince George’s County superintendent, announced that metal detectors will be introduced into PGCPS high schools. He remarked that the “10 gun arrests last year alone, and an increased number of mass shootings across the country,” was the definite turning point in coming to this decision. Metal detectors are expected to arrive at Eleanor Roosevelt High School this fall, however there is no certain date as to when they will arrive. Location of where students will be scanned will be at the entrances of the school. ERHS will hope this provides the right amount of “security enhancements” that provides more safety for the school.
According to WUSA9 News, “The metal detectors PGCPS high schools are planning to use will detect just for weapons; it won’t be activated by, for example, phones or phone chargers. They will act similar to the security enchantments technology that are used by airports Transportation Security Administration (TSA), as both metal detectors are operated by the same company.”
Mr. Antoine Elder, Security at ERHS, thinks the metal detectors will benefit the students and their safety at PGCPS. “The main objective for all students who attend a PGCPS school is to be able to learn. To ensure students are capable of learning, it is the responsibility of all the staff members assigned to Eleanor Roosevelt High School to promote a safe environment. The metal detectors are another tool that will be implemented to assist with making ERHS a safer place”
McKinley Tech in Washington DC already has metal detectors in place. Their basketball Head Coach Ali’s opinion was they “put an end to the violence a lot quicker with the kids.” He thinks it is very beneficial with the new generation of kids. Kids are influenced by things they see on TV or maybe their friends. The things you see and hear can influence the brain to do the unthinkable.
DC Mentor and Coach Jimmie Jenkins states that “you shouldn’t be coming to school not knowing if you will make it back home, it’s a place to learn not to cause harm to one another.” Students and staff members come to school to learn and spread positivity. Yet a handful of students come with negative intentions to cause harm and be a troublemaker. So the use of metal detectors being placed in schools is a plus for the community.
Metal detectors were announced to come into schools on July 11, 2023. Millard House II issued them as a way to keep students safe. “The first schools that will have these new metal/weapons detectors installed are Suitland High School, Dr. Henry Wise High School, Bowie High School, High Point High School, Central High School, and Oxon Hill High School” according to WUSA9 news.
These schools and others across the country have similar patterns that are related weapons like knives, mace, and guns. As an example many fights occur throughout the year whether it be inside or outside near the school. Metal detectors will be brought in to try to stop this but, it remains to be seen the impact they will have.
