Turnstiles, metal detectors and armed security: Schools in Brazil’s radical measures in the face of a wave of violence

In late March, 71-year-old teacher Elisabeth Tenreiro was stabbed to death by one of her own students, just 13, at a public school in western Sao Paulo. This year alone, several students have been seized with weapons in schools across Brazil, including one in Paraná, another in the Distrito Federal and one inside Sao Paulo, who have spread threats of massacre on the social networks.

But the death last Wednesday of four children who were playing in a courtyard of the Cantinho do Bom Pastor nursery, in Blumenau, in the state of Santa Catarina, ended up shocking Brazil. A 25-year-old man stormed the facility with an axe, attacked the miners, then turned himself in to authorities. The fatal victims were only between 4 and 7 years old.

“A country, a world that kills children is anything but democracy. It’s anything but a decent world. We are failing the people who need us most in this country miserably. And we have to admit that we have to take a step forward. I would like, on behalf of the Brazilian state, to apologize to them,” said Brazilian Human Rights Secretary Silvio Almeida.

And it is that the security situation in educational institutions has worsened to dramatic levels in recent times. According to the O Globo newspaper, 22 acts of violence have been reported since 2022, nine of which have taken place in the last eight months.

Given this scenario, schools and education networks across the country, public and private, are increasingly investing in security measures to provide rapid responses to families, students and society. But after the death of the four children in the attack on the Blumenau nursery, the debate has intensified and drastic measures are already being announced, such as the adoption of metal detectors and even armed security guards, according to the Rio de Janeiro newspaper.

In private schools, the concern is such that in addition to intensifying the training of doormen and guards, the next step should be to put in place evacuation protocols for the school community in the event of an attack.

In statements to O Globo, Amábile Pacios, vice-president of the National Federation of Private Schools (Fenep), said she was against the use of firearms, but added that the entity organizes courses for porters and guards, which deal with immobilization techniques, personal defense and recognition of bladed weapons and firearms. Likewise, he criticized the law that prohibits the physical and jerky search of students and advocates its repeal.

“There are studies that prove that environments with weapons tend to be more violent, so the proposal is to provide adequate training so that professionals can act in defense of students. It is recommended that schools adopt security cameras, turnstiles and other means depending on the size and the needs”, declared Pacios, before delivering a disturbing information: “But for the effect to be generalized , there must be public policies that put more police officers from school patrols on the streets, because the number of officers today is not enough to cover the needs”.

In the case of Santa Catarina, where the attack on the nursery took place, the teachers will attend self-defense courses which must be given by the military police. The state government has also promised to announce a package that, in addition to greater police presence, points to integrated prevention, education and technology actions.

Given the fear, towns across the state, some close to Blumenau, will adopt armed security guards at student entrance gates, as is the case with Indaial, and others are already talking about expand the use of metal detectors, like Chapecó, also in Santa Catarina.

In the State of Sao Paulo the mobilization is strong. For example, in the municipality of Boituva, police surveillance will be reinforced in public and private schools, and in Vinhedo, in addition to police reinforcement, a WhatsApp channel will be created to receive anonymous complaints about suspicious behavior. Meanwhile, the municipality of São Mateus, in the state of Espírito Santo, is planning an emergency line, which will act as a “panic button”.

For its part, the Brazilian Association for Early Childhood Education (Asbrei), which helps nurseries in particular, has created a cycle of conferences and training with specialists in preventive security. Depending on the entity, the entire school community will be formed. The proposal, in the case of children, goes through playful approaches that respect their age and understanding. In the schedule to be applied, there are safety talks for parents; first aid training; simulation of escape in the event of an invasion; and self-defense training, O Globo said.