Florida students return to ‘picture of education in fear’

PARKLAND, Florida — About 50 uniformed officers march into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School early Wednesday, just one aspect of the heavy security as classes resumed for the first time since 17 students and teachers were killed by a troubled teenager with an AR-15 two weeks ago, thrusting them into the center of the nation’s gun debate.

The heavily armed police presence, designed to make the community feel secure, is also disturbing in itself, some students say.

“This is a picture of education in fear in this country. The NRA wants more people just like this, with that exact firearm to scare more people and sell more guns,” says David Hogg, who has become a leading voice in the students’ movement to control assault weapons. “I know one of those bullets could be shredding through me if I was misidentified as a school shooter,” Hogg adds.

Grief counselors are on campus as well “to provide a lot of love, a lot of understanding” and help students “ease back” into their school routines, Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie says. Officers with therapy dogs also standd outside.

Wednesday’s class schedule starts with 4th period, so that students and teachers can return to the people they were with during the shooting. The freshman building where the massacre took place remains cordoned off.

— AP