Israeli school security weighs heavily on parents' minds

Israeli parents say they fear not enough is being done to protect their children at school from potential suicide bombings.

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- A recent wave of suicide bomber attacks has forced Israeli school officials, parents and students into becoming more vigilant while sparking a national debate about how much security is enough.

Needless to say, tension has been high at schools for some time.

"There was once in our school this bag that a kid forgot," said Daphne Bevenisty, 11, a student at the Beit Hakerem K-12 school. "And we got all scared, and we all went into the school. But it was nothing. Yeah, we're alerted for these kinds of things."

At the Beit Hakerem school, parents have pooled their money -- about $20 annually for each student -- to hire an additional security guard.

"I just hope it's enough, but I know it's not enough," said Dakar Askins, a parent whose child attends the school.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Chris Burns reports on security measures Israeli schools are taking to protect children from attacks (April 9) Play video

The school encourages teachers with firearm licenses to wear their weapons in the classroom. "We're told to keep happy and to try not to make the children any more nervous than they are," said teacher Elaine Zaken. "We all force ourselves to smile."

A federal budget crunch has clamped limits on additional funds that could be funneled to schools to increase security.

"When you put one man in school and a suicide bomber comes in, he will go in," said Gideon Ezra, deputy minister for public security. "At least you would have a last line of defense. I think the chances we will catch a suicide bomber is more on the border or in the cities on the way to school.

"It's not enough, but when you have no choice, when you have no people, when you have no money, then you have to do what is good," he said.

Another line of defense comes from Israeli television, which has created a program aimed at increasing safety awareness among schoolchildren.

Security officials appear on the program speaking to children about staying alert. The children are told to report anything unusual, such as someone wearing a heavy coat on a warm day.