Naples – Entering class with a knife in your pocket is no longer the exception of a degraded context, but a worrying habit that is slipping into generational fashion.
From Caivano to the Colli Aminei, the phenomenon of bladed weapons in classrooms is pushing Neapolitan institutions to respond in an unprecedented way, balancing the rigors of security with the need for educational dialogue.
The siege in backpacks: the phenomenon in numbers
Data from the past year paints an alarming picture: 38 minors were arrested or reported by the Carabinieri in Naples and the surrounding province for possession of weapons at school. This number, according to experts, represents just the tip of the iceberg of a widespread phenomenon.
It's no longer a question of "tough neighborhoods": the blades appear in elite institutions in the center as well as in frontier schools, involving increasingly younger children, up to the threshold of 11 and 12 years old.
Between metal detectors and prevention
For eleven months, a plan coordinated by the Prefecture has been in place that includes the use of metal detectors and dog units at school entrances. "Walking with a knife doesn't make you appear mature," warns Prefect Michele di Bari, emphasizing that repression is only part of the strategy.
The Morano Institute in Caivano and the Marie Curie Institute in Ponticelli are exemplary. Here, principal Valeria Pirone was among the first to call for stricter controls. "It's a constant war," she explains, highlighting how gun ownership has become a questionable means of social recognition for many.
The regulatory challenge and the role of families
The debate now shifts to the legislative and family level. There are two hot fronts:
The digital market: Calls are being made to halt the online sale of edged weapons, a commitment also made by the Government to limit their ease of procurement.
Social media: Platforms are often the stage where knife ownership is displayed and normalized.
Families, however, remain the "big sick" in this emergency. Defined by principals as the weak link in the chain, they are called upon to work collaboratively with schools. Without home-based education, metal detectors risk remaining only a temporary barrier to violence that begins long before the school bell rings.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
This is a very worrying situation that cannot be ignored. The data on minors with guns at school is alarming and requires attention. Families must be more involved in this issue, otherwise nothing will change.