As a parent of three children who go to one of the schools the Sun Journal tested in its security audit (Nov. 5), I wanted to write and express thanks.

My family has been in the Mechanic Falls area for two years. Not knowing that much about this area before we had moved here, my husband and I had to trust in a school we knew nothing about.

The rise in school violence has been a concern for us, and seeing that our school at least stopped the Sun Journal staff member in a short period of time puts us at some ease, but there are a lot of parents who should be very concerned for their children’s safety and asking their schools for the changes necessary to protect those children.

The parents who are upset with the Sun Journal staff are being unrealistic. The test was done for the protection of children and only good can come of this. Administrators in schools that did not do a good job in protecting the children now know where faults lie, and should be working to correct these problems. The Sun Journal test should be a wake-up for all the schools in the state.

Our children are our most precious gifts and we should be working to protect them, not condemming the people who point out the shortcomings of the schools where we entrust our children.

Tamara Oles, Mechanic Falls