The mission of SOS aims to increase safety for the students and faculty of Thomas Jefferson High School. graphic by Evelyn Jackson
A new club is starting up at TJ, working with an organization to prevent the effects of gun violence on Thomas Jefferson.
Month after month, K-12 students are instructed to turn off the lights, sit against a wall, and lock their classroom door. These lockdown drills are a regular practice for these students, and have become just another part of a routine. But, in the event that something does happen, they have to be prepared. Students find themselves wondering, “Is that door really locked?” or “could I jump out that window if I had to?” The reality of the situation is that nothing is set in stone, and safety should be our number one priority.
This is where the Shield our Schools (SOS) club and non-profit organization comes in. SOS is an organization founded with the hope of uniting people across political beliefs to create safer schools for children. The founder, Paresa Noble stated that “every school wants to have a fully secure building, but I think the number one reason they don’t is funding.” The non-profit organization is raising money to directly implement better safety mechanisms into schools. As Noble pointed out, many school shootings could have been prevented with an easy security fix. A door that doesn’t lock or a faulty security camera could very well be the reason that someone has the opportunity to get into a building where they don’t belong. It is the role of Lieutenant Taylor Davis, a first responder and Douglas County Sheriff Office (DCSO) board member, to evaluate what schools are lacking in security and to make a list of changes that can be made. This is a way for schools to directly be awarded funding that the organization has raised in order to improve their facilities in the name of safety.
Annabelle Geib, a sophomore at TJ has worked closely with the non-profit since it was founded, and recently decided to take action. Geib has felt passionately about the topic of gun violence for a long time, and wanted to do something about it. Because of this, she started the new SOS club, held in room 09 and sponsored by Spanish teacher Laura Prow. The club is working side-by-side with its parent organization and seeks to involve students with the decisions being made. Noble stated that she understands the frustration and powerlessness that students can feel about a topic so pressing and widespread. Joining the SOS club is a great way to get involved and to learn more about the problem in general. SOS club spends their time raising money for the organization, collecting data from students, teaching TJ community members how to handle crisis situations, and bringing awareness to the realities of gun violence. It is a great way for students to get involved with the decision making process and be a representative for our school so that necessary changes can be made.
The Shield our Schools organization hopes to step outside the confines of a political standpoint. Although gun violence and amendment rights are an inherently political topic, fighting about a long term solution does not make changes. The group recognizes that “naturally, our brains have been primed to jump to this is a political thing when something like this happens.” However, Noble seeks to steer her organization away from the conflicts of politics and to more immediate solutions that we, as individuals, can actually implement. The logo of SOS is two hands (symbolizing Republicans and Democrats) reaching across a shield to shake hands, symbolizing their common interest in solving the issue at hand. As Noble pointed out at her speech on opening day of the club, “Good only wins if good takes action.”
It can be upsetting to want to help a situation but not know how, especially for students who aren’t in a position to directly donate or make any large political waves. Joining the SOS club Fridays during 5th period lunch is a great way to make a difference for our community and show that you are a dedicated individual. Gun violence is likely a problem that will continue in the near future, but there are things that we can do to mediate its effects. It is up to the students and TJ community to advocate for ourselves, show that we care, and speak up about the changes that we want to see in the world.
