Editorial: Heavy metal

It says a lot about society and local leadership when Philadelphia school officials try to sugarcoat the fact that only 842 weapons were found in public schools last year, down from 941 the previous year.

More troubling, more than half of the weapons were found in elementary and middle schools, including an elementary student's backpack that contained a loaded .40-caliber Smith & Wesson.

Weapons were recovered in 166 elementary and middle schools - so this is not an isolated problem. Indeed, each weapon is a ticking time bomb that could kill or injure an innocent child.

The state's safety advocate, Jack Stollsteimer, has sounded the proper alarm by urging the district to install metal detectors in all schools as opposed to just high schools.

But district officials seem nonplussed, noting that the numbers have decreased. Instead, officials say hand-held scanners are available at elementary and middle schools. Obviously, the scanners aren't doing the job.

No one likes the sight of metal detectors at schools. It's a signal of a school besieged by violence and fear. But the district needs to face the reality that weapons in some elementary and middle schools are a serious concern.

In addition to more metal detectors, the district needs to talk to kids and parents about the dangers and easy access to weapons. Swift action needs to be taken against kids who bring weapons to school.

Teachers need to know their work environment is safe, and parents need to be assured that their kids won't get shot while trying to learn how to read.

Above all, district officials should act before it is too late.