[Winona Online Democracy]
Or there is the third option, which is to recognize how improbable vioence
in school is and accordingly deemphasize school-security policies and
emphasize more needed improvements in the school system, like administrative
policies that treat studying as more important than sports and school social
activities.
Metal detectors, while irritating, are not an infringement upon privacy and
dignity to the degree that physical searches do. While I would question the
expense and message sent, from a privacy standpoint I would have no problem
walking through a metal detector when I entered a school. Physical searches
of my person, bag, or locker, however, would be fairly degrading and a
violation of my privacy. Having one's bags opened at random by an airport
security guard would, I suspect, raise a bit of ire from the average adult,
as would having one's desk repeatedly dug through by one's employer for no
particular reason.
I also agree with Lori Baumgardt's comments about metal detectors and the
message they send to students, though. There's a certain theory that "as
you expect from someone, so shall you receive" or something close to that.
My major objection to Ms. Olson's comments here is her presumption that not
instituting these policies will result in the occurence of violence. We
don't have to choose between intrusion and violence--schools are quite safe
without treating students like prisoners. While others on this list have
expressed their willingness to sacrifice students' liberty and privacy on
their behalf to reduce the likelihood
of violence, I feel the opposite way--I would have gladly allowed the
likelihood of violence to increase by a tiny fraction of 1% if I could have
gone to a school that didn't treat me like a criminal or an
institutionalized mental patient.
>From: "Joliene Olson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "onlinedemocracy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: [Winona] an adults perspective of search
>Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 00:01:08 -0500
>
>I personally do not feel offended every time I go to the airport and have
>to pass through the metal detectors. My husband and I even had the
>officials randomly stop us and do a specific test that was checking for
>explosives. That didn't offend me. That told me that although air travel
>is very safe that all precautions were being taken.
>
>I have a friend who was able to go on the Oprah show. Before they went in
>they went through a metal detector AND their purses were searched
>thoroughly. Is it sad that this had to be done? Yes!! but it certainly
>speaks to the fact that there are crazy people with crazy ideas out there
>and over precaution is better than picking up the pieces later.
>
>I think you should be GLAD that our schools are dealing with these issues
>proactively and that there are rules, random checks, etc being done. The
>other option is to wait and have to react to an instance of violence and
>all the sadness and loss we would be dealing with. In fact, I believe
>there would be plenty of criticism about officials not being careful and
>acting to prevent such scenarios.
>
>Joliene Olson
>507-454-1236
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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