Why do high schools with metal detectors take bomb threats seriously?

[Anonymous]

The high school I went to of approx. 2000 students had airport-style metal detectors and scanners when you entered the building. Plus there were 15-20 security guards working there. So why when there was a bomb threat they made us students sit on the bleachers for 4 hours wasting valuable instruction time, while searching the school thoroughly for explosives? Needless to say, no explosives were found. We have scanners and metal detectors, so how can a bomb get in the school? That’s literally what metal detectors are for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The high school I went to of approx. 2000 students had airport-style metal detectors and scanners when you entered the building. Plus there were 15-20 security guards working there. So why when there was a bomb threat they made us students sit on the bleachers for 4 hours wasting valuable instruction time, while searching the school thoroughly for explosives? Needless to say, no explosives were found. We have scanners and metal detectors, so how can a bomb get in the school? That’s literally what metal detectors are for.

You cannot be that clueless, can you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The high school I went to of approx. 2000 students had airport-style metal detectors and scanners when you entered the building. Plus there were 15-20 security guards working there. So why when there was a bomb threat they made us students sit on the bleachers for 4 hours wasting valuable instruction time, while searching the school thoroughly for explosives? Needless to say, no explosives were found. We have scanners and metal detectors, so how can a bomb get in the school? That’s literally what metal detectors are for.

You cannot be that clueless, can you?

OP here. Then what's the purpose of scanning if it can't protect us from bombs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The high school I went to of approx. 2000 students had airport-style metal detectors and scanners when you entered the building. Plus there were 15-20 security guards working there. So why when there was a bomb threat they made us students sit on the bleachers for 4 hours wasting valuable instruction time, while searching the school thoroughly for explosives? Needless to say, no explosives were found. We have scanners and metal detectors, so how can a bomb get in the school? That’s literally what metal detectors are for.

You cannot be that clueless, can you?

OP here. Then what's the purpose of scanning if it can't protect us from bombs?

In all likelihood, they can, but it's not foolproof and a bomb in the school is very very serious. If they have reason to believe there might be a bomb, they'd be negligent not to take it seriously and evacuate). There's a reason this is standard practice for schools and government buildings (the Colorado Capitol which also had metal detectors was evacuated because of a bomb threat yesterday).

I lived through many of these bomb threats as a kid (enough that I lost count), and managed just fine despite losing hours of instructional time.

[Anonymous]

Metal detectors detect metal. Bombs can be made with non-metal materials. A smoke bomb of sorts (doesn't do damage, I know, but is an easy example) can be made using match heads. People can 3D print pipe bomb materials out of alternate materials, like they do ghost guns. No metal needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Metal detectors detect metal. Bombs can be made with non-metal materials. A smoke bomb of sorts (doesn't do damage, I know, but is an easy example) can be made using match heads. People can 3D print pipe bomb materials out of alternate materials, like they do ghost guns. No metal needed.

OP here. The scanners can detect other non-metal contraband as well. They were able to detect when students brought cigarettes and confiscated them. They should be able to detect all types of bombs with 100% accuracy.

[Anonymous]

Because kids hold open doors for each other to let other things in the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because kids hold open doors for each other to let other things in the school.

In my high school, there was literally a hole in the fence everyone used to climb through to ditch. As soon as it was repaired, another hole appeared. Hopefully kids aren't doing that nowadays, but yeah, it's hard to stop every possible entrance when so many kids are involved.

[Anonymous]

I believe that windows can be opened...

Equipment can fail.

Bombs have non metallic parts that can be brought into school and dangerous.

There is a whole host of reasons.

[Anonymous]

OP are you under 22 or something? Most reasonable adults don't ask stupid questions like this. (And yes, the teacher who told you there are no stupid questions was lying to make you feel better.)

[Anonymous]

How many decades has it been since there was a bomb threat with an actual bomb in a school?

[Anonymous]

Oh wait is this an analogy to masking? And the point being that mask mandates don't work (in school setting at least)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because kids hold open doors for each other to let other things in the school.

In my high school, there was literally a hole in the fence everyone used to climb through to ditch. As soon as it was repaired, another hole appeared. Hopefully kids aren't doing that nowadays, but yeah, it's hard to stop every possible entrance when so many kids are involved.

In other words metal detectors are just a meaningless gesture for show since they'd be easily bypassed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because kids hold open doors for each other to let other things in the school.

In my high school, there was literally a hole in the fence everyone used to climb through to ditch. As soon as it was repaired, another hole appeared. Hopefully kids aren't doing that nowadays, but yeah, it's hard to stop every possible entrance when so many kids are involved.

In other words metal detectors are just a meaningless gesture for show since they'd be easily bypassed.

No. Security (of all kinds) is about layering. Think of an airport. You have metal detectors which perhaps stop xx% of a bomb threat, and you have bomb-sniffing dogs which stop XX%, then security cameras, and you have the employees ask you if you packed your own bag, and then you have a response protocol to handle threats which provide added protection. Etc. It's about layers upon layers, with no one layer being entrusted to prevent 100% of anything.

Additionally, all these tools are deployed for more than just bombs. Guns, knives, explosive materials packed in suitcases, smuggled drugs, etc.

The same thing for schools on a more micro scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The high school I went to of approx. 2000 students had airport-style metal detectors and scanners when you entered the building. Plus there were 15-20 security guards working there. So why when there was a bomb threat they made us students sit on the bleachers for 4 hours wasting valuable instruction time, while searching the school thoroughly for explosives? Needless to say, no explosives were found. We have scanners and metal detectors, so how can a bomb get in the school? That’s literally what metal detectors are for.

That's like asking why if we have a lock on the front door of our house do we also need an alarm system?