Writing Showcase

Liberty vs. Safety

            One main controversy in schools today is whether students’ liberties or safety should be enforced within school walls. Some people may define liberty as being able to make their own decisions without anyone infringing on those decisions. However, liberty is also being able to go about one’s daily life and doing what one pleases without having to worry that someone is going to harm one in any way. One of our liberties is to be able to be safe at school.

            Safety should be enforced in schools because if a student wants to keep something hidden but poses a danger to fellow students and teachers, then it is the school’s responsibility to address the matter. Some people may say, however, that locker searches and metal detectors are violating one's personal privacy. If a student decides to bring a gun, knife, or any other weapon to school, that poses a threat to the whole school, because anyone can get hurt, so locker checks would be worth the time to protect the well-being of everyone. If there are not any safety measures in place how can the school perform its duty of keeping everyone safe? One’s life and the lives of one’s peers are more important that a simple safety check than will not harm anyone.

            Still other people may argue that it is a sign of lack of trust between the teachers and students. Students in school have not fully matured, but they are learning how to become prepared young adults. Therefore, students will not always make the best decisions. Some of their decisions will be based on emotion, and it is those emotions that can sometimes lead students to do crazy things. For example, one student gets into a very heated argument with another student, the next day the one student might want to confront the other student and bring in some outside weapon for his advantage. Students tend to think that they know it all and that they always make the best decisions, but the truth is that they are still learning how the world works and how to cope with it in a mature manner. Since they are still learning, students will make mistakes that can cause harm. Before the world gives them liberty, schools should give them safety so they will be able to enjoy their liberty in the future.

           Safety is more important than the liberty to do whatever one wants. The safety of a school can have a great impact on the lives of the students and staff members, and once that life is gone it can never be brought back again. Life is a precious thing that should be protected.