what's the security like in your childrens school/camp?

yo'ma

Tue, May 06 2008, 4:10 pm

Over here, every jewish school is locked, you either have to be buzzed in or there are security guards who let you in. They don't just let anyone in either, they have to know you or know that you're coming. Same with camp.
You're also not allowed to park in front and not for busses, but for security reasons. You're not allowed to park (there are barriers some places) in front of any jewish and maybe also religious place and any school. All the big shuls also have a security guard, in a little booth on the sidewalk. I think they got a lot more stricter and careful after the bombing in '92.

GAMZu

Tue, May 06 2008, 6:27 pm

Oh boy. Don't start me on this.
Let's see. The door is locked, officially, but is not always closed shut so that it locks.

There is no hallway, no offices, no guard because this is the preschool building. (There are in the main one.)
The 4 youngest classes are 10 feet from the front entrance.

The Rebbes don't verify who is picking the child up. I always pick my son up. But once DH had to do it, so I called to tell the Rebbe in advance. He was like... uh, ok, what's your point.
It really bugs me that he would let any man walk off with my son, without a question.

My son's class happens to be supervised the best out of the 4 on the ground level. But I always see kids from the other classes playing in the lobby, OPENING THE FRONT DOOR and pushing each other out and locking the door.
Not only is the door really heavy and can chop off some fingers, but the 4-5-6 year old kids are outside on the street alone. Sad

This shpiel takes place for 20 minutes or so before dismissal.

Argh. And now they will be taking the boys to that new park on 18th where the child molester was hanging out before. I'm sure they'll watch every single boy with eagle eyes. Rolling Eyes

Atali

Tue, May 06 2008, 6:31 pm

yo'ma wrote:

I think this is an American versus not American thing. In Australia, the situation is exactly as you described, but I have never seen that in America.

amother

Tue, May 06 2008, 6:49 pm

Our school used to be very lax about security. Anyone could pick the kids up, strangers roaming through the halls. DH and I raised a huge fuss (it didn't hurt that we are paying full tuition for 3 kids in addition to other donations we make). DH spoke to other influential parents as well and made them aware of the dangers.

Now there are some new policies in place.
-All doors are locked from the outside at all times. There is a camera in front and visitors need to be buzzed in.
-A full time security guard monitors the school at all times.
-Only parents in the school can do pick-ups without prior consent. I would have liked to have a list of authorized picker-uppers for each family, but it was tried and abandoned.

GAMZU, if I knew my children's preschool had a situation where kids were able to get outside alone for a number of minutes, I would campaign to change things or switch schools.

Why do we have to wait for bad things to happen before making changes?