How school security in NJ has changed since the ’90s

School is now well underway throughout New Jersey, with kids still on the gas pedal, trying to get to June. Of course, it's still a little soon for that, but we'll get there.

At the schools, kids are often greeted by some form of security. In most cases, security guards or police officers.

They're usually very friendly with the kids. If anything, the kids usually love being around them because of how they interact with the kids.

And it's perfectly normal to experience this in today's world. And throughout the day, the school remains locked to the outside world, minus things like recess, gym, or class trips.

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But it wasn't always like this. Think back to when you were in school and ask yourself, was this how it was back then?

You're never too safe

You can never be too safe in today's world. At least, that's how the old saying goes. And with New Jersey's schools, that saying couldn't ring any louder.

Every so often, parents need to go to their kids' schools for various reasons. Sometimes it's for fun activities, and other times it involves things such as their child's progress.

For the most part, the procedure upon arrival is pretty much the same across all New Jersey schools. You enter through a specific location where security would meet you.

Canva (Townsquare Illustration)

Who are you

After identifying yourself and addressing why you're there, security would then take down your info and issue you a visitor's pass before unlocking the main door into school so you can get in.

On the surface, this doesn't seem like a big deal. Those measures, which may differ a bit from school to school, are in place to keep our children safe.

But after several years of going through this process with my kids' school, it suddenly hit me. What was the procedure like when I went to school around 25 years ago?

Come right in

One part that I believe was still the same is that you still needed to sign in and register at the front office. Outside of that, however, is where it differs.

Let's start with the obvious one - locked doors. When I was a kid, our schools did not have locked doors the way they do now.

There was no security to check in with, and you were free and clear to enter the building on your own. Yes, you could technically wander the halls without ever going through security.

Thanks for the call

We also didn't have cell phones or computers back then. If there were computers, they were still in their very early stages before becoming more mainstream by the turn of the century.

Another difference. We weren't paranoid like we are today. The schools just left the doors open and didn't think twice about it.

It was simpler times for sure, but it also points to the changes in time. Fast forward to today, and it's completely unheard of to have a school unlocked without some type of security established. What a difference 25 years makes.

The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 Sunday morning host & content contributor Mike Brant. Any opinions expressed are his own.