EDITORIAL: Recent incidents bring important topics to parents

Two disturbing incidents have shaken parents and educators to the core when it comes to safety on campus and returning home from school.

The attack on a school resource officer at Carolina Forest High School in Conway raised the question of weapons on campus. Trevor Varinecz, 16, who was described by friends as a compassionate, caring and happy student, was shot and killed after confronting Horry County Lance Cpl. Marcus Rhodes, the resource officer, with two knives Oct. 14.

The death of 7-year-old Somer Thompson in Florida put parents in the difficult position of telling their young children about the incident and protecting them, or not talking about it for fear of scaring them.

The motive for the Carolina Forest incident hasn’t been released by agents with the State Law Enforcement Division, who are continuing their investigation.

Varinecz reportedly had Asperger’s syndrome, which is a developmental disorder that resembles autism. He was shot five times, once fatally to the chest, after stabbing Rhodes, who was justified in his actions, according to 15th Circuit Deputy Solicitor Fran Humphries.

The NAACP raised questions about the use of force.

“There are serious questions that must be aggressively investigated,” the NAACP said in a statement. “Was the officer trained in the techniques to work with individuals with autism, or mental illness? Did the officer use all available means to contain the situation without using deadly force? Should school resource officers be allowed to carry guns in schools?”

Those are legitimate questions. And it’s also legitimate for parents across the Pee Dee to be asking if school districts are reviewing their safety procedures in wake of the incident. They should be.

Florence School District 1 Superintendent Larry Jackson and his staff discussed the Conway incident in a staff meeting Wednesday. They reviewed the district’s procedure and protocol in dealing with violence.

“Any time an incident similar to this happens, we talk about how we would have handled it,” Jackson said. “We feel we have a good plan in place. We have trained with the sheriff’s department and the police department. We feel we’re prepared.”

Florence 1 high schools use metal detectors to prevent weapons on campus. Jackson also said students are randomly searched with a wand during the school day.

“In our review, we discovered we have no wands at our elementary schools,” Jackson said. “After our review, we decided to order some.”

Somer Thompson’s mother cried openly in an interview on NBC’s “Today” show Friday. Regardless of whether the incident was a random crime, her pain should let other parents know to be obsessive about the safety of their children.

Parents must tell their children about what happened and make them keenly aware of the deranged people who prey on the young and innocent.

Times have changed. Most schools are filled with latchkey kids who go home alone because their parents work. More than half of the students in the Pee Dee probably fit that description.

We hate to say it, but it’s dicey for children to walk home from school and walk from the bus stop to their houses.

If possible, parents should pick up children at school or at the bus stop. At a minimum, encourage children to walk in packs and stay together as they’re going home.

“We’ve got a number of latchkey children,” Jackson said. “We encourage parents to communicate. Call and touch base with the child. Stay in touch. Know when your child is supposed to be home.”

It’s pure fantasy to think senseless acts of violence can be eliminated. But, in reality, parents and students can be as safe as possible if they think and talk about the dangers around them.

— Unsigned editorials represent the views of this newspaper. Editorial Board members are Mark Laskowski (regional publisher), James Bennett (regional editor), Sam Bundy (sports editor), Kimberly Ginfrida (news editor), David Johnson (regional circulation director), Charles Tomlinson (Lake City News & Post editor) and Jackie Torok (metro editor).