Talking With: Jim Woods, BHS Security Guard

Jim Woods is  likely one of the most familiar faces in the halls of the Babylon Junior Senior High School and not just because he's been working security for nearly two decades. The avid photographer is often see snapping shots of school events.

Patch, in its ongoing series of highlighting school and community members, asked Woods about how he moved into the security role, the changes in students that he's seen over the years and what he likes to do when he's not keeping the students from misbehaving.

1.  How long have you done security at the school?
I have been here since November of 1992. A  total of 18 years.

2. What did you do before you came to Babylon?
I was a member of the Suffolk County Police Department.  I was a detective in the 1st squad in West Babylon.  When I retired in 2000, I continued my employment at the school.

3. How do you like to spend your free time?
The majority of my “free time” is spent with family.  I am married, have two grown children and two wonderfully active grandchildren.  I spend as much time with them as I can.  I enjoy travelling, and I am an avid amateur photographer.  I spend a lot of time taking pictures everywhere I can carry a camera.  I particularly enjoy the privilege of taking pictures at Babylon High School.  I am proud to say that many of my photos end up in the yearbook.

4. What's the best part of the job?
I very much enjoy the social interaction at school.  Over the years, I have gotten to know many of the administration, faculty, and staff and it is a pleasure to interact with them and the students during the course of the day.  The hours and working conditions are very good and the school allows me a lot of freedom with the photography aspect.  I feel like part of the “Babylon Family,” and I have the satisfaction of doing my part to make Babylon High School a safer place.

5. How do you or the other security guards get to know the students in Babylon?
Through interaction with the students during school hours, social events, theatre production and during sporting events.

6. Would you say that students today are respectful of authority and rules?
Without a doubt, the overwhelming majority of students are respectful of authority, the rules, their fellow students and the faculty and staff.

7. Can you describe your responsibilities as security guard?
Security of the building is our primary responsibility.  That entails checking the hallways, the doors, parking lots and outside perimeter of the building to make sure that only those persons authorized to be on school grounds are on the premises.  We also assist in keeping order within the school and enforce school rules and regulations.  We also provide security at many extracurricular events such as the prom, junior deb, theatre productions and sporting events.

8. What is the hardest school rule to enforce and why?
I would have to say that the wearing of hoods and kids listening to ipods/cell phones in areas outside of the cafeteria, are the two rules that I find that hardest to enforce.

9. You get an interesting perspective of Babylon’s teenagers while doing your job. How would describe this generation of teens compared to when you were a teenager?  Is there hope for the future?

I think that today’s generation has it a lot harder than when I grew up in North Babylon during the 1950’s and 60’s.  Times back then seemed a lot less hectic: no drug problems like today, no constant pressure to get into college; there were plenty of good paying manual labor type jobs available if you decided not to go to college.  The divorce rates were a lot lower and the family unit, community and religion were very important parts of most households.  My parents grew up during the Great Depression, and material things did not mean as much to us as they seem to matter today.  I also feel my generation had a greater sense of community bonding, more patriotism, and a sense of self-discipline that was instilled at an earlier age.  We also had the feeling that things would just keep getting better in life if we did the things a successful society wanted us to do.  We followed the rules without questioning them.  Remember, too, that the people of this nation, our parents, grandparents and elected leaders, had just weathered a Great Depression and had also just defeated Germany and Japan to win World War II.  We were a great, victorious nation and very proud.  I remember President Kennedy and the sense of pride and general good feeling he gave to us.  In America, there is always hope for a great future, and I feel the students of today will eventually lead this nation to it.

10. If money weren’t an issue, what security measure would you recommend the school to implement?
Another security guard for the morning shift.  One single entry door for all students in the morning and a centralized location to monitor the hallway cameras.  Also a better location for the Alternative Learning Site (a.k.a. – In-school suspension room).