Student questions legality of metal detectors at school

WTNH Television ^ | 9/20/06 | Puppage

[Puppage]

(New Haven-WTNH, Sept. 19, 2006 10:45 PM) _ A student's refusal to walk through a safety detector earns him a trip home.

For some the installation of metal detectors in schools is to better protect those inside.

One New Haven student is refusing to walk the walk, questioning whether his rights are being violated.

The district says it is like the right to enter a courtroom or get on a plane. It's new policy to keep young people safe.

For this New Haven student it's all about his fourth amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Nick Evans is getting a lesson in the legality of school policy.

The 16-year-old was sent home after refusing to walk through a metal detector and be searched as he entered Career High School.

"They haven't done this properly. There's not policy stating that I have to," says Evans.

The high school junior is challenging the New Haven District's recent decision to implement added security measures in the building last week.

"The handbook dictating district policy states they need reasonable grounds to search me."

No where in the handbook, he says, does it spell out anything about random searches or the use of metal detectors.

"I'd like to see them actually making this legal."

But a spokesperson for the District says the Superintendent has the right to make changes in what he considers to be emergency situations. The increased security comes after a violent summer in the Elm City and the deadly shootings of a 13-year old girl and boy.

"The Superintendent has the authority in the event of an emergency to enact directives and right here he believes it's important right now to expand what we are doing in terms of security for all students in the high school," says Susan Weisselberg, New Haven Public Schools.

The district admits it has no written policy on its latest measures but says that's about to change.

"We are adopting a formal policy. We will have the first reading by the Board of Ed Monday night," says Weisselberg.

For the schools, metal detectors and student searches are about keeping kids safe.

Nick Evans says he'll follow the policies as long as they are within the boundaries of the law.

"I would if it's a good sound legal policy. If they try to trample 4th amendments rights... ah getting shaky," says Evans.

Nick Evans says he will go to school tomorrow because he doesn't want to miss his classes, however he's plans to be vigilant in making sure the district follows through.

There is also no formal written policy for the use of metal detectors at Hill House or Wilbur Cross High School but the district says that will change too.

[Protagoras]

Damn right. We need to impeach Bush and cheny and install Hugo Chavez to show us how to run a country.

Nah, he lacks the nuance that is required to dismantle the rights of the citizenry.

But I can see the nuanced strategy of disconnecting the events of this country from the conversation by attempting to link a hated third party as the culprit.

It's a nice try, maybe you have the nuance to be the next in line to dismantle our rights. Ever thought about running for office?

[Blue Jays]

You accidentally forgot the sarcasm tag at the end of your post because a FReeper would never call for abolishment of the 4th Amendment like that.

[Blue Jays]

Hi HonorsDaddy-

Your post is 100% accurate regarding how instructors need to come down on problem students like a ton of bricks. I was a good kid is school, spoke to the teachers with respect, played two varsity sports, and participated in two clubs. I was essentially unaware of the punishment mechanisms because they didn't enter my "world" at school. Doors weren't locked, there were no metal detectors, and students were not assumed to be violent-criminals-in-training by administrators. The only "violence" came from fisticuffs over boyfriends and girlfriends.

We all knew who the "bad" kids were as did the teachers and the moment they became disruptive, they were sent from class and escorted to In-School Suspension with the rest of the losers until the Vice-Principal could decide their fate. Let the administrators do their jobs and schools will start resembling schools again without this outrageous stripping of the Constitution that has been occuring the past few years. These kids need to be prepared to enter the real world someday.

~ Blue Jays ~

[Blue Jays]

Nick Evans is a teenaged kid who no longer wishes to be pushed around by bullies. Your use of unwarranted vulgarity is crude.

[toddlintown]

Libertarian hogwash.

[Blue Jays]

Hi toddlintown-

So what are your feelings towards random metal detectors set-up at shopping malls, supermarkets, movie theaters, coffee shops, community colleges, and a variety of other locations surrounding your home? Hey, it would improve your safety, right? You have nothing to hide...

~ Blue Jays ~

[wintertime]

Student questions legality of metal detectors at school


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The fundamental question that needs to be asked is: "Are government schools themselves constitutional on a state and federal level?" The answer is, "No!"

Asking if metal detectors are constitutional is merely smearing the icing around the top of a constitutionally rotten cake.

The following is an excellent essay explaining why government schools are unconstitutional on a state and local level:

http://www.newswithviews.com/Stuter/stuter9.htm

[wintertime]

The district says it is like the right to enter a courtroom or get on a plane

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People volunteer to fly planes and their are alternative transport.

People are in court because of criminal activity, or they voluntarily sue someone, or they by law must respond to a civil suit.

For most children, government schools are NOT voluntary. They are compelled by law to attend. If they don't, they and their parents face armed police, court, and foster care action. Once in these prison-like institutions children are treated like prisoners. They are subjected to metal detectors. They can be searched without a warrant. They are told to shut up. They can publish only what the government allows. They must associate only with those the government assigns to them. They can not freely profess or practice their religion. They are marched about to the sound of Pavlov's bells. They are told when and what they can eat, and when they can rest and exercise. They exercise must be government approved. They are even forced to take group showers.

Real criminals in real prisons have one advantage over kids in their kid prisons ( oops! "skools"). Real felons are not subjected to the constant drip, drip, drip, of indoctrination in the non-offical government school anti-religion of Secular Humanism.

[Axhandle]

"What about metal detectors set-up at the shopping malls, supermarkets, movie theaters, coffee shops, and a variety of other retailers surrounding your house. Sure it would be a hassle, but at least YOUR safety would be increased. See where that kind of intrusion could get under your skin?"

I live in DC. I already deal with it at various buildings and even on the streets during certain holidays/events. No, it doesn't bother me.

"I'm not calling you a bootlicker..."

That's reassuring.

I'm not sure if you intended to respond to me or someone else. My only issue with the kid is that he is a child and the school administrators are the adults to whom his parents entrust him while he is at school. He should know his role.

[wintertime]

What the school needs to do is find the two or three disgruntaled kids planning on staging a school shooting and set a date for them to do it. They then tell all the kids except for this one moron not to come to school. On that day, the kids with guns come into the school to only to find Mr. 4th Amendment the only one in class. Let's see how he likes his 4th amendment then.

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The solution, Mad-as-Hell, is to privatize universal K-12 education. Private schools don't have a problem with doing what is necessary to maintain order. Why? They don't because they are voluntarily chosen. Just as you choose to mannerly at a movie, or be evicted, parents agree before hand that their children will be manner at a private school. If they aren't they will be evicted.

Government schools for most are NOT voluntary. The government compels them to be there. The government then proceeds to trash every one of their First Amendment Rights, and in this case subjects them to searches.

There is a fundamental problem between citizen rights and government schools. The two are NOT compatible and can not both exist in the same space at the same time. It is impossible!

[wintertime]

Are minors entitled to the full scope of the BOR? I don't think so.

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The Bill of Right does NOT have a clause that says, "Except government school children and their parents!"

[minor49er]

"Are you saying that public schools are Constitution-free zones?"

I am currently attending public high school. When asked, I was told that the Constitution doesn't apply on school property.

[wintertime]

Please read my message #148.

You are completely correct. Government schools are dangerous prisons.

[Landru]

Might as well challenge this and any other damned thing while they're at it.

Unless the establishment powers-to-be are prepared to explain & defend such matters they're toast.

And forget what used to be all that was necessary to get everyone behind an idea, since it really doesn't exist any longer.

..."We hold these truths to be self evident."

[wintertime]

Do tenth graders have the right to bear arms?

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My brother in the fifties was member of the target shooting team. He carried a rifle to school, and stored it in his locker. It was a private, Philadelphia, Catholic, parochial, all-boys high school.

Apparently, in the 1950s they had a Constitutional right that prevented the government from forbidding it. My parents could have intervened though and forbidden it, and the private school could have as well. It was their private right to do that, but NOT the government's.

[wintertime]

Why does it not bother you that metal detectors are even required in public schools?

Why does it bother you more that a normal student might object to being treated like a criminal?

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Reason?

People that defend the government school are hard boiled frogs and past feeling.

[wintertime]

that the entire socialist system of government schooling is un-Constitutional and coercive in nature

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The following is an excellent essay on why government schools are unconstitutional on a state and federal level:

http://www.newswithviews.com/Stuter/stuter9.htm

[wintertime]

Never was the intent to allow children to walk about carrying weapons without parental consent.

Government can not prohibit youth from carrying guns. Parents can.

My brother was on the target shooting team in his high school. He carried a rifle to school( He walked.) and stored it in his school locker. This was the mid-1950s. His school was a Catholic parochial high school in inner city Philly. (All boy)

[luckystarmom]

I agree with a lot of your sentiment. I worked at a company (ESL) where a guy came in and shot and killed 7 of my co-workers. Metal detectors would not have stopped him!

On the other hand, I could see metal detectors deterring kids who are members of gangs that routinely carry guns or knives from routinely carrying their guns and knives to school.

[luckystarmom]

You've hit nailed it perfectly!

It should bug everyone that we even think about metal detectors in schools.

We just pulled my daughters out of public elementary school. I was appalled by the behavior of the kids, and the lack of discipline by the staff. It was a new school for my daughters last year, and they hated it.

The school had all these programs about bullies. My daughters learned all sorts of ways of handling bullies. Most parents thought this was so great. I was appalled that my daughters were having to learn anything about bullies.

My daughters are in a small private Christian school this year, and they love it!!! They never talk about bullies because they don't need to.

My son is still in public. I need to get a job before we can afford to send him to private. He's in middle school, and I want him going to a private Christian high school.