Peter Kott, a specialist on school security and director of ESSEX Building Security, a national program focused on school safety and security products and consulting, recommends asking your children questions to discern the overall security at their school.
According to Kott, "Discussing these questions at home can give you insight into how prepared your school is in all three areas." Here are the questions:
- Ask your child, Has anyone at school talked to you about looking for warning signs of violence in other children, and what to do if you see them?
- Ask your child, Have you practiced security drills where you have to stay in the classroom and the teacher locks the doors?
- Ask yourself, Is our school communicating with me on school safety and security?
"The best programs include activity in all three areas -- preventative action, physical security and communication," Kott says.
