On Wednesday, Sep. 18, the New York City Police Department arrived with metal detectors at Cardozo High School for the first time this school year. Students entering the building were asked to place their bags, along with all of their items—except their ID—through a scanner, as they walked through metal detectors.
While this was the first day of scanning for the 2024-2025 school year, metal detectors and scanning at Cardozo are nothing new.
Metal detectors can appear at Cardozo at any time, and have for years, due to the New York City Department of Education and NYPD’s “random scannings.” Schools are selected across the city at various points in time. These are some of the many methods that the NYC DOE and NYPD uses to keep Cardozo, and other schools, safe.
However, there are always mixed views from the student body on whether or not metal detectors are needed and, whether or not they help.
“I think the scanners, are completely fine to have every now and then. Because you know, hearing a lot around the world,” Richie Vidair, a Cardozo junior explained. “Like say the shooting in Georgia, you know it’s very important to make sure people aren’t bringing things that are dangerous to school.”
“I find no problem with it,” he said.
Vidair believes the metal detectors are not much of a hassle, with or without notice from friends, he believes it’s a good system. “As long as it’s safe for people, it’s understandable,” he added.
Falisha Majid, a Cardozo senior expressed, “I think the scanners can be very beneficial, but at the same time it can be annoying, as it slows down students from getting into class on time.”
Majid wasn’t the only one to believe the metal detectors slows down students. Japleen, another senior at Cardozo voiced, “I think the scanners are important and we need them, but they aren’t efficient enough for the amount of students that we have.”
“Students are often late to homeroom and first period, and they can be an inconvenience,” Japleen expressed.
The inconvenience was not lost on other students, as well. Cardozo senior Evelyn stated, “It’s very annoying, the lines get really long and it makes it really hard to make it on time to first period.”
“It’s such a hassle to take everything out, and then put it back in your backpack, and then go up the stairs,” she said. “But, I get it, it’s protocol and it’s to keep the students safe.”
Students are searched for various items that are against the NYC DOE’s disciplinary code, such as weapons and other prohibited items. Students should always remember to empty out their pockets and place everything in their bags before entering to the metal detectors to keep the process flowing.
