Opinion

Second School Resource Officer needed addition

Saturday, February 16, 2002

It's a changing world, McCook High School Principal Jerry Smith pointed out during a school board discussion Monday night.

How right he is.

Almost three years ago, we were horrified by the scene at Columbine High School, where the problems of a couple of individual students erupted into violence and death.

Six months ago, we were shaken by the events of September 11, and none of us take our own safety or the safety of our loved ones for granted.

But long before those two events, schools were the focus of many of society's problems, from broken homes to drugs and alcohol abuse, to teen pregnancy, violence and crime.

It is tempting for teachers and administrators to blame the home when problems manifest themselves at school, and as often as not, the teachers and administrators are right.

It's just as tempting for parents to blame teachers for the failure of their children to adjust to peer pressure, academic and extra-curricular demands.

But the truth is, as children grow up, they need as much help as they can get. Sometimes it's a listening ear. Other times, it's discipline at home or in the principal's office. Too often, it may mean a trip to court.

Many of the crimes in our community, unfortunately, can be traced to those of school age or not much older. Rebellion against authority and society makes itself felt in the form of vandalism, theft or other crimes against people and property.

McCook already has one school resource officer, and the program, thanks in no small way to the officer involved, Jerry Calvin, has proved to be a success.

The addition of a second SRO, if the city, school and funding agency agree, will help make further progress in the right direction.

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