2007-06-01 17:52:17 · 8 answers · asked by The Batman 3 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
I don't know... haven't heard much about it, but I do remember my senior year in high school. It was during the build-up of "fresh security ideas" and "increased safety measures" that occured after Columbine and Jonesboro.
The school began treating the students as criminals. A "no bathroom break" policy went into affect, people were suspended for bringing nail clippers and Midol to school, and just mentioning the word "gun" or "bomb" in class, even in the context of classroom discussion, could mean a one-way trip to the principal's office.
At the graduation, we had men with earbuds hiding in the trees, looking out for mad gunmen. We had armed security guards at every entrance. All this in a town that supports perhaps 7500 people, a large majority of whom were not students...
Why did they feel they needed the security? I had a lot of time to give thought to this throughout my last school year. Eventually I came up with the answer: Because their overbearing policies had created a resentment towards the establishment that spread throughout my class like wildfire.
Another problem that was adding to the tension was the fact that the school was gaining more and more power over a child's homelife. Missing detention more than three times meant a trip to juvenile hall. Same with missing summer school. Fighting with another student outside of school property meant suspension from school and detention when the suspension was over.
Once they had the power, they started to abuse it, causing resentment to deepen even further. They took toilet paper out of the bathroom, and students had to go to the office to borrow the three measly squares of rough John Wayne TP that the school would mete out. Random drug searches were performed in the middle of class - heaven forbid you left your lunch laying around (those drug dogs weren't very well behaved.) Parental notification was no longer required for corporal punishment - they could flail away at a child for not completing his homework, but heaven forbid if a parent laid a swat on the child's butt.
And talk about stupid - they locked the doors from the outside, in order to keep students from leaving. However, anyone could just walk right in to one of the many entrances without even being noticed, and without any kind of barrier to prevent their entry.
During all this, bullying did not stop, despite their "no tolerance" policy. In fact, it seemed to be encouraged by school staff. Violence at school actually escalated, despite the fact that the punishment was more severe. Teachers were assaulted by students (I think my year was a first for that.) The more "safety measures" they added, the more the students went out of line.
To answer your question: My guess is that things haven't gotten any better. I'm assuming (and I don't know for sure, having been out of school for a while) that they're still under the impression that they can keep bearing down more and more on students, causing resentment and fueling the fire that they're trying to prevent in the first place.
Sorry for the long-winded answer.
2007-06-01 18:38:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, Missouri is the "Show me" state, so I guess they're taking their slogan to heart and showing everyone. It could be due to the availability of weapons, mindset of the kids, or if necessary, we can always blame it on the Internet, video games, MTV or Rosie O'Donnell.
Look, until parents start doing their jobs and spending more time instilling proper values with their kids, this stuff is gonna continue.
2007-06-02 00:59:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it's near the end of the school year, "Senioritis" has set in, & everyboby just wants their Summer Vacation to BEGIN- already... Give it a few more weeks- and everything will quiet down...
2007-06-02 00:59:09 · answer #3 · answered by Joseph, II 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wouldn't you be depressed living in Missouri?
2007-06-02 00:54:29 · answer #4 · answered by fisch_maegg 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I keep thinking it can't be just a coincidence that my first husband lives there. Maybe they're catching the insanity from him. It *is* contagious, you know.
2007-06-02 00:55:10 · answer #5 · answered by Kuji 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've gotta vote fisch_maegg as best answer! LOL
2007-06-02 01:00:41 · answer #6 · answered by JillyBn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because there are crazy people in the world
2007-06-02 00:54:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have not heard of any i do not know whats going on
2007-06-02 00:56:24 · answer #8 · answered by Mississippi's Jersey girl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋