“Ask not what your country can do for you… ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy

I Picked Wednesday!

After watching the reaction of recent events (school shooting), it became clear to me that nothing is going to change until people change.  I didn’t cause the shooting and I can’t change anything about it. God, on the other hand, can make all the difference in the world.  I picked Wednesday to be the day I concentrate on stopping future shootings. Health issues won’t allow me to do a true fast, but I can set aside extra time with God on this matter.  I’m having a cup of tea this morning while I spend my quiet time in prayer for our Nation and our schools. 

I’m fortunate to teach in a school where safety is very important. Visitors must stop and talk with a security guard before they can come on campus. All doors are locked during the day. No one may enter the building without being buzzed in.  A camera is in place, so office personnel can see who is trying to enter. School employees have fobs to enter certain doors. There is a resource officer assigned to our building. We have intruder drills as often as any other drill. The only thing missing are metal detectors.  Some schools would be wise to add those.  These precautions aren’t fool proof, but I feel safe inside my school.  That has not been the case everywhere I have taught.

Every school in the nation should have similar precautions. They need them TODAY! The biggest obstacle to carrying this out, is money.  It will cost a considerable amount of money to bring school safety for all to fruition. School budgets are tight and may not have extra to spend on this concern.  If enough people work for the common good, money can be found and/or raised to implement these changes.  Contact local businesses and corporations to contribute to a safety fund.  Organizations exist to help with this specific issue.  Find grants for school improvement specifically geared toward school safety.  Once the building changes have been put into place, all that will be needed is salaries for a few additional personnel.  There may be volunteers for some of these jobs. 

My prayer is for people to stop debating and act toward protecting our schools.  We shouldn’t expect the government to take care of everything. Take responsibility for your community and help make it a safer place.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20