Another Tragedy

Just weeks ago, we were writing that violence can happen anywhere.

In the aftermath of the deadly shootings at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, the thought was - if it can happen at a church, no place is truly safe.

But even given that tragedy, I didn't think it could happen again so soon. And certainly not at a school.

But it did.

16 year old Ryan McDonald was shot to death in what police say was a confrontation with another boy at Central High School.

It's doubtful that anyone could have prevented this tragedy. But there were at least some general warning signs.

In a story we ran back in early July, Central High School Principal Jon Miller told 6 News that his school wasn't perfect, but "we run a pretty tight ship at Central High School."

Miller was responding to concerns of parents at a meeting called by the Central High PTSO. One parent we talked to, complained of discipline, violence and drug problems at the school.

"If I could afford to send my child to a private school" she said, "I would."

Dr. Jim McIntyre, just four days into his new job, was present at the meeting. He told our reporter, Jill McNeal, he was encouraged by the turnout and pleased that the principal and many of the parents were "focused on the academics."

Schools should be focused on academics. But that is not what many parents are thinking about right now. Their focus is on their children's safety.

I was on Lloyd Daugherty's "The Voice" radio show this morning. He talked about a simpler time in school, when a bloody nose from a fist fight was about as violent as it got.

I'm not sure it was ever that easy, but schools do seem more dangerous these days. Despite the fact that, statistically speaking, schools are the safest places for children to be, maybe we need to rethink our school security plan.

Susan Williams, also on Lloyd's show, said she hates to think that we need metal detectors in all our schools, but this shooting might suggest otherwise. I agree with her, schools should be considered safe places and - thank God - for the most part, are.

And, yes, I understand, it's easy for us to react in a knee jerk fashion right now, but maybe it's time we seriously talked about metal detectors in schools.

If someone has a better idea, I'm sure there are lots of parents who are listening.