By: Patrick Murphy, Reporter

Due to violence in schools in the United States, there have been many changes in how to handle and eliminate threats to students and faculty in schools. These policy changes, some more drastic than others, have changed how students are protected in school.

The repercussions of cracking down on violence in schools are also some unfair punishments being distributed. Last year in Anne Arundel County Maryland, a second grade student was suspended for chewing his pop tart into the shape of a gun and saying “bang bang” to another student. The school then proceeded to expel the child for being a threat to other students. Alternative punishments should have been enforced before removing a seven year old child from a school environment.

Assistant Principal Mr. Michael Hennessy says “There’s no place for it [violence] in a school; there’s no need for firearms in a school setting. Does it happen? Sure, but if anyone feels threatened, that’s when actions need to be taken. If someone feels threatened they can’t learn. That’s our number one priority, safety.” But does it need to be taken to the point where safety comes before learning

Since the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School incident, there have been thirty four school shootings in the United States according to this study. That’s an astonishing amount of shootings that have gone unknown of in the past two years to drastically change schools policy, such as Seminole’s own policy change where teachers must keep classroom doors locked.

Assistant Principal Ms. Mary Turner says “I think right now the way the world is, you have to approach every situation as if it is a danger. All it takes is one time for you not to act in a careless manner for something bad to happen.”

With the ever-changing world being the way it is and violence  seems to slowly become more prominent in school settings, but that doesn’t mean that any forms of safety precautions could stop any of these tragic events from happening. If someone wants to do something they’re going to do it, whether pop tarts are taken away or doors are locked.