FEAR OF GUNS SHOWING UP AT SCHOOL NO LONGER JUST A BIG-CITY PROBLEM

An elementary student showed off a handgun at school, another displayed a gun at a junior high school dance. Guns in schools have been an issue for big city schools for years, but the issue has come home to Southeast Missouri.

School administrators say they have zero tolerance for weapons on school grounds. Policies reflect the hard-line approach.

Teachers in Cape Girardeau schools listed school violence, vandalism and crime among top issues in a recent survey, said Neil Casey, president of the Cape Girardeau Community Teachers Association.

"We are concerned about student discipline, but we are more worried about a kid packing a pistol," Casey said. "This is not just big city crime."

In 1993, 111 teachers rated it as high, 74 medium and 14 low. In 1988, responding to the same survey, teachers ranked their level of interest in school violence: 44 high 74 medium and 32 low.

"There is a significant minority of students who have no respect for authority and they are mainstreamed with the kids who just want to learn," Casey said.

Casey said the problem is bigger than schools. "It has to do with the break down of the family. Students have very little supervision. They have poor role models. All the factors combine.

"I think what teachers realize is that we are one of the first places where the status of the society shows up. We're the front line for whatever shape society is in."

He said teachers confront students daily who have no respect for authority.

"Student behavior is worse and worse and we have fewer consequences for inappropriate behavior.

"I'm not sure what the solution is, but I would like to find solutions that are preventative steps instead of curative measures."

School administrators say they hope to provide a safe atmosphere. If students or teachers are afraid, not much learning takes place.

Jackson Superintendent Wayne Maupin said, "I'd have to say concerning dangerous weapons at school, the Jackson R-2 schools have zero tolerance."

Students caught with a weapon on campus could be expelled.

"The overriding goal is to ensure a safe school environment," Maupin said. "Sometimes that may require some drastic measures against an individual student."

Maupin said reviewing the district's procedures for dealing with an incident of weapons on campus was a Board of Education goal set last spring.

This fall, the administration outlined a three-step plan for prevention, crisis intervention and follow-up.

Meetings have been held with faculty members to go over the procedures and teachers have been asked to share the information with students, Maupin said. Letters have been sent to parents outlining the same information.

"Times have changed and we have got to be aware that these kinds of things can happen and have some kind of idea on how to react," Maupin said. "We have got to develop a mind set that weapons may be in the hands of students. This is reality.

"We've had two incidents," Maupin said. "It's not like an epidemic, but we want to be better prepared."

In Cape Girardeau and Scott City, public schools are designated drug-free, gun-free zones. Violators of drug or weapon laws may receive more severe punishments as a result.

The Scott City schools were the first in the area to be designated as a drug-free, gun-free zone.

Superintendent Douglas Berry said: "We have not had any incident of guns being brought to school, but we don't think we're any different than anyone else.

"We certainly would consider it a very serious offense, and we certainly don't consider ourselves exempt from the problem."

Cape Girardeau Superintendent Neyland Clark said, "We are caught in a dilemma. We don't want to create a school environment with police officers roaming the halls. On the other hand, we don't want an environment where kids are fearful to come to school.

"We want to create a culture within the school buildings that really perpetuates teaching and learning.

"We are taking a very strong line on any type of weapon," Clark said. "If a student brings a weapon to school, chances are he or she faces long-term suspension or expulsion from school."

He said students and parents know what the rules are and know what the consequences are. "We are taking a no-nonsense type of approach."

Cape Girardeau schools have been working with the city police. Officers have been on campus at different times, including one announced drug sweep and another unannounced drug sweep. No drugs were found either time.

"They are friendly officers who know the kids for the most part," Clark said. "Their presence on our campus has been positive. They have been given carte blanche to come in any time and any place on campus."