A gaping hole in school security or am I being an over reactive parent?

[theGinsue]

GlockShooter - Let me just say that I'm very happy to hear that your daughter is safe.

I'm going to let my emotions calm before I make any phone calls or take any action as part of me just wants to call Channel 7 and turn them loose on them.

BTW, you should call Channel 7 and get the media involved. That school should pay for reacting so poorly. What school was it?

Agreed. Call the News! Sadly, YOU trying to get changes made to improve the security of the children or for anything else in a public school will result in a great deal of frustration on your part and absolutely no progress. When the News gets involved, things tend to happen. this is primarily due to the fact that the School Board is aware that bad press translates into voters turning down tax increases to fund the schools.

Where was the school's SRO during this? I would bring this issue up with the school board.

I believe that someone already mentioned this, but most K-5 schools don't have an SRO.

I understand worrying about the safety of your children, really, I do, but at what point does worry become paranoia?

I could explain it until I'm blue in the face, but until you have your own children you just won't get how absolutely horrifying these events are. When you see your children faced with anything that could potentially harm them, your heart stops, your blood turns to ice, and time stands still. Every day we hear of some child disappearing or someone doing the unthinkable to a child. There are many who honestly believe that these events aren't actually happening any more than they ever have, but it's just getting more exposure. I believe both are true. We are becoming an increasingly violent and dangerous society. I for one would have rather have been a paranoid parent than the parent of a child whose naked, beaten and violated body was found in a shallow grave in a nearby ditch.

If you guys want to give the school district the power to lock your children in a building, go for it, but I find it absurd.

As others have said, not locking the children IN, but others OUT. I never had a problem with checkpoints at the doors of my childrens schools and having to sign in and get badged (even getting escorted to where I was going).

Many doors at most schools have the same type of doors that movie theaters have - anyone can leave, but the doors are locked to those outside and there are no handles on the outside of the doors to pull the doors open with.

And if that happens, how far of a stretch is it before the school district has more power over your children then you do?

That statement is fairly naive as school districts ARE officially considered the experts over your own children; they DO have more power over your children.

As far as "strip searches" (I did not quote that comment), school officials can legally do just short of that already. In fact, some schools HAVE performed strip searches of children and gotten nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

It's not the authorized individuals, such as the students, that we are especially concerned with, it's those who DON'T belong who can get in, abduct a child, and get back out without anyone even knowing they were ever there.

[iamhunter]

As far as "strip searches" (I did not quote that comment), school officials can legally do just short of that already. In fact, some schools HAVE performed strip searches of children and gotten nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

It's not the authorized individuals, such as the students, that we are especially concerned with, it's those who DON'T belong who can get in, abduct a child, and get back out without anyone even knowing they were ever there.

No, I do not yet have children. But I can empathize with how terrifying it can be facing the terrible things that go on in this world...

I also realize how people's fascination with such crime ( in a horrific sort of way) makes it seem more looming and prevalent than it probably is.

That's not to say its not safer to err on the side of "paranoia", but I think it's important to realize that giving the schools to much power to "protect" your children could create it's own monster.

I mean how would you feel if your 14 daughter came home and had been wrongfully strip searched by the school staff?

Or if you found out the schools had been spying on your family via webcam?

or if your 16 year old son was charged with felony theft for something he didn't do?

I don't propose to have a perfect solution, just trying to encourage discussion on both sides of the fence.

More rule and regulation means more power. And that's not always a good thing.