[Winona Online Democracy]
First of all, I didn't intend to respond to the comment that my belief that
"not implementing the policies would result in the occurrence of violence.
That was not my assumption. I just meant that "prevention" is more
proactive than waiting for an incident and have to react to it. Whether we
are talking about airports or schools or TV show doesn't matter. I guess I
am more in favor of prevention.
I really do have to react however, to Andrew's assertion that a few students
didn't "put forth their best effort" because of the "repressive
atmosphere". That is really to bad, BUT, there is no promise or guarantee
that life is going to be fair. We cannot always choose what happens to us
in life BUT we can choose how we react to it. The measure of maturity is
not blaming others for failures.
By the time that you reach your senior year in high school it is hoped
that with the counsel of parents, pastors, relatives, friends, coaches,
teachers and other mentors, you need to be reaching a maturity level where
someone else is not to blame for everything that happens to you.
I know, I know, there are a lot of adults who haven't reached that level
either. But I would expect bright, articulate, and well read students such
as your self to be getting closer than some. That is just my experience
and perspective for what it is. Thank you
Joliene Olson
507-454-1236
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: "andrew thompson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 5:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Winona] an adults perspective of search
> [Winona Online Democracy]
>
> And Mr.Lanz returns to the assertion that not instituting invasive
security
> measures will result in violence. Many participating in this discussion
are
> framing it as if David, Dan, Dwayne and I (My name doesn't start with a D;
I
> feel left out.) had been placing privacy above safety. I can't speak for
> others, but my own position is this: If it would prevent violence, I
> wouldn't mind being strip-searched in full view of the entire faculty and
> student body. The fact is, however, that this will not prevent any
violence
> because the likelihood of violence would have to exist in the first place
> for these school-security measures to prevent it.
>
> Columbine: I'm sure a majority of people who have had their houses broken
> into have installed security systems on their houses or otherwise acted to
> feel more secure, probably sacrificing some convenience and money to do
so.
> Burglary happens, and I'm sure those who have been the victims of it now
> regret not putting up more protective equipment beforehand, but since the
> particular city my family lives in has a relatively low crime rate and the
> likelihood of our house being burglarized is therefore small, the family
has
> opted not to make the expense of money, convenience, and comfort that
> installing a sophisticated alarm system and putting bars over our windows
> would incur, since that expense would be greater than the benefit derived.
> In the same way, the cost to the educational system of excessive security
> measures in money, staff time, and student enthusiasm is much greater than
> the infinitecimal threat of violence it abates, meaning that it fails the
> cost-benefit analysis test.
>
> A great many bad things happen to a great many people, but every single
> incident of misfortune or tragedy should not convince an indivual that he
or
> she is going to be a victim of that particular catastrophe. One should
> instead examine such incidents as they are reported and then make as
> informed as possible a judgement based on all available information as to
> how likely one is experience such an event, then take whatever precautions
> this conclusion demands. Yes, Columbine was tragic; yes, I hope nothing
> like that happens to me or to anyone; yes, people's lives are more
important
> than my privacy. However, can we PLEASE be rational about this? My
privacy
> and someone's survival have never, to my knowledge, been in conflict. My
> four-year sentence at WSHS was marked by frequent intrusions and
> obstructions put in place by an administration trying to ward off a
monster
> that did not exist. No one benefitted, other than perhaps any staff who
> might have been paid overtime to remove door handles and repair cameras,
but
> many people's lives were made more unpleasant, and I guarantee that at
least
> a few students who would otherwise have been enthusiastic about school
have
> been turned off the repressive atmosphere and have consequently not put
> forth the effort needed to derive any significant benefit from going to
> school. The hysteria the media have created around incidents like those
in
> Littleton, Springfield, and Santee is destructive to the cause of creating
a
> better educational system.
>
>
> >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >CC: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Subject: Re: [Winona] an adults perspective of search
> >Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2001 02:25:39 EDT
> >
> >[Winona Online Democracy]
> >
> >Mr. Thompson seems to return to his one overriding theme here, that the
> >change of violence happening at any given school is rare and therefore
> >there is little or no need
> >for security. I wonder how many students in Littleton, Colorado felt that
> >way until one fateful April afternoon in 1999?
> >Dean
> >
> >----------------
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>
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