Many of us remember the days when you could simply enter school through an open door. Today, following tragic events at Polish educational institutions, we increasingly ask ourselves how much access should be restricted?
A reader asks us to look into what safety is like at educational institutions in Bolesławiec. He shares his observations with us, stressing that he is not talking about suspicions, but about what he regularly sees when visiting schools and preschools in the city.
“Due to the nature of my work, I regularly visit schools and educational institutions in the city. From the perspective of an outsider, I have repeatedly had the opportunity to observe what access control to the buildings is like.” The reader describes how easy it is to enter many institutions: the doors remain open, and an outsider can enter without contacting an employee, introducing themselves or stating the purpose of their visit.
“In practice, this means that an unauthorized person can find themselves in a building where children are present before anyone notices them.”
The reader clearly emphasizes that he does not want to cause panic. He stresses that he is not claiming that a specific threat has occurred or must occur in Bolesławiec. The point is something else: to ask whether the current procedures are sufficient.
“However, I believe it is worth asking whether the current access-control standards are sufficient and whether we should take preventive action before something serious happens.”
As he acknowledges, the issue is gaining importance in the context of recent tragic events at Polish schools, including knife attacks. But here too, the reader urges restraint.
“However, I am not trying to create an atmosphere of fear. On the contrary, I believe that it is precisely in such situations that we should calmly analyze the existing procedures and security measures and check whether they can be improved.”
That is why he is considering preparing a group petition to the Mayor of the City of Bolesławiec. The main demand would be to conduct a safety audit at all municipal institutions and introduce effective access control, so that an outsider could not freely enter a school or preschool and move around it without the staff’s knowledge.
“I would also like to initiate a public discussion on this issue and find out what the situation is like at individual institutions and what position the city takes on the matter.”
What do you think? Is safety sufficient at Bolesławiec schools and preschools? We invite you to join the discussion—we are waiting for your opinions and accounts.