Leeds stabbing should not lead to ‘prison-like’ security in schools

LEADING representative of Catholic head teachers has spoken out against increasing security in schools following the fatal stabbing of a teacher in her classroom on Monday. Ann Maguire, a 61-year-old mother of two was stabbed to death in front of students at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with her murder.

Following the tragedy, Maria Rimmer, vice president of the Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools and Colleges, and head teacher of St Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High School in Wrexham, said airport-style security in schools would create a “prison-like” environment. Her remarks come as a debate takes place over the safety of teachers and pupils following the death of Mrs Maguire who taught Spanish and RE at Corpus Christi for 40 years and was due to retire in a few weeks.

Mrs Rimmer said she believed the killing of Mrs Maguire was a one-off event and warned against a knee-jerk reaction.

“We have to cherish the fact that for the most part our schools are vibrant, nurturing communities,” she told The Tablet. “If we put in a fortress mentality with detection systems, it would be a counter-productive move.”

She went on: “It ramps up the fear factor. School doesn’t become somewhere children feel happy and safe and successful but a drastic and daunting prospect. It’s a school, not an airport, not a prison. Faith schools invest a huge amount in the nurture and care of young people. You have to believe in the goodness of the individuals and you draw that goodness out. That’s what education does. You have to have a climate of trust and respect.” The murder of Ann Maguire is the first of a teacher in a classroom since the Dunblane killings in 1996. It has also drawn comparisons with the 1995 London murder of headmaster Philip Lawrence who was killed outside St George’s Catholic School, Maida Vale.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols spoke of his shock and sadness at the news of Mrs Maguire’s death. “I pray that through the shock, distress and anger that this action evokes, the light of Christ may shine, a light that calls us to trust in his merciful love, that brings us a touch of calm and healing and that opens our hearts to each other in our bewilderment and dismay,” he said. His comments were echoed by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, chairman of the Catholic Education Service, who was due to be installed as Archbishop of Liverpool on Thursday (see page 33). “Ann gave her life to the college and Catholic education, and thousands of young people have benefited from her kindness and hard work over many years.”

The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales is due to meet in Leeds on Monday and some bishops may pay a visit to the school. At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, David Cameron and Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, referred to Mrs Maguire’s death as an “appalling tragedy”.

On Tuesday morning, hundreds attended Mass at the Church of Corpus Christi near to the school where Mrs Maguire was an active parishioner. Mgr John Wilson, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Leeds, said that the mood at the Mass was solemn and dignified and that the congregation was “swelled” by a large number of current and former students.