TSA-style "security" at my son's middle school

[AnnetteJacobs]

My son is in 7th grade at Independence charter middle school in Oklahoma City. He's doing well there, and getting good grades. However, I've always been bothered by the right-wing flavor of the place (for example, they have signs that say "no excuses" over almost every doorway).

A kid there was arrested during school a couple of weeks ago for “illegal possession” (we assume this means drugs). After that, the principal told to the student assembly that all students are now required to carry all their stuff (books, binders, etc) between all classes, without using lockers, backpacks or bags. In other words, carry everything with there bare hands. The kids were having a hard time hauling their stuff with a rolling backpack (they have 2-4 large books every day, plus all their other stuff). It seems this rule with remain therest of the year. I'm mad that only the kids were told this, that the parents were never contacted about the whole thing.

[leveymg]

1. If the authoritarian atmosphere really bothers you, put him back into public school, while you

still have a choice. Or, raise a ruckus with the Administration, PTA and school board. They do listen to outspoken parents.

[AnnetteJacobs]

2. What public school?

There's nothing but charter middle schools around here. The only choice is sending him to the high school, and we hear there's all kinds of problems with gangs and drugs there.

There's also private schools, but they cost major $$$.

[lostnfound]

4. Wow. That sure explains the goal of the push for charters.

How to get the kids into authoritarian camps slowly without waking the masses all at once. Just great.

[leveymg]

5. There are NO public middle schools in your area? That's amazing . . .

I didn't think it had gotten to that point, yet. But, I don't know much about what's going on in Oklahoma. As for the High School, all High Schools have some drug and gang problems, even the most affluent, highly-rated schools in the country. I know, because my wife teaches at one of them.

[jberryhill]

12. Oh golly the public schools are full of drugs? But the bust happened at your kid's school

Yes, I'll bet you do. Since your child was not raised to have any morals or spine, then he'll be using drugs upon entering the den of evil that is public school.

If that is your attitude toward institutions about which you "hear" then your son is in the correct school with the correct attitude right now. And, obviously, there are drugs there.

Best thing to do - teach him to carry his books.

Good use of "TSA" in the title to attract readers to this likely fictitious thread.

[AnnetteJacobs]

18. Fictitious?

Call the school, ask them if that's their policy, then get back on this board and apologize.

http://www.icmsokc.com/

[jberryhill]

23. To whom for what?

My perception of what is "likely" is my own opinion to which I am entitled.

There is a gaping logical disconnect between your perception of "drugs in the public schools" and the quite obvious stated fact of a drug bust in your son's school.

By agreeing to a charter school, you would have agreed to whatever arbitrary measures they take. That's the "beauty of the free market" in education.

The school to which you linked uses as its logo, an offensive mutilation of the US flag depicted as an article of clothing, which speaks volumes about their apparent depth of thought and respect for this country.

Comparing having to carry books to the TSA is over the top. You either want the school to take measures to ensure that the students are not carrying contraband, or you are willing to accept the possibility that they do. You have ruled out the latter option as unacceptable to you, so what is your complaint?

[Dappleganger]

35. Every school has drugs.

Your kid will learn to deal with as did my kids. They know who the druggies are and give them a wide berth. No problems whatsoever.

[surrealAmerican]

3. You need to work with other parents to bring this up ...

... with the principal. If your school has a PTA, that would be a good place to start.

[tanyev]

6. It's because of all that sharia law threatening to take over the state.

[BlueJac]

7. It is time to shine your boots,,,,,,,

This has been happening slowly for a long time while the masses were sleeping. Waking up to this is startling isn't it?


Who said there were any Democrats left?

[saigon68]

8. Learn the Goose Step too

[Mika]

10. Note to self: Buy black boot polish.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bKzxHRgRbOo/SfYx7kUQcZI/AAAAAAAABjE/Nk_WRXh5lHs/s320/turd+polish.jpg

---

[RC]

31. When are they going to come out with Spearmint or Peppermint or some-such flavored boot polish?

I can see it coming.

[CBGLuthier]

9. That School Sucks. They toss out low performers to keep their test scores up

My daughter got thrown out of there ten years ago.

Astec is even worse. We put one kid through there but the other we had to move to Harding Fine Arts. These charter school directors and principals act like little dictators.

I am so glad all of mine are through with school.

[seabeyond]

11. my son and i talking this morning about authoritive, condescending rule from highschool.

we were exactly talking about this same things. at his high school he has 6 VP's, two policemen. and a handful of asst VP's sole purpose to find and patrol for kids doing something wrong. he is really being bothered. tells that he follows the rules, gets the grades and a continual watch from so many adults treating them as criminal. it has premeated thru out our society last over a decade. so many submit per the TSA rule. it is in our police force. we are implementing it thru out and too many people embrace and allow.

people must look for the worst the extreme the bad all the friggin time.

i once told police as tsa security was busy instilling fear into my very little kids a handful of years ago, you treat us all like criminals, that is just what we may all become.

looking

walk into an airport and that is what we all are.... criminals, to be treated as such, warranted or otherwise.

[kctim]

13. No excuses = "right wing flavor?"

[AlabamaLibrul]

14. It's all about personal responsibility, don'tchaknow. No excuses. n/t

[kctim]

25. It is for the ones who WANT to do well

[seabeyond]

28. what happened to saying, i fucked up and finding a solution instead of whining

why whatever didnt happen.....

[seabeyond]

15. rw that i am, i went into quite a rant with my 13 yr old about his eng grade and NO damn excuses....

lol.

one of my favorite things in this house, with kids, is .... i dont want to hear excuses. i want problem solved.

[AnnetteJacobs]

16. No excuses?

So then, you can never call in sick to work, right? Miss an appointment because your car breaks down? Take time off because of a death in the family?

The killing part is, it's "no excuses" for the kids, but not for adults. Kid forgets homework, gets detention. Teacher forgets to bring in the day's assignment, no consequences.

[seabeyond]

17. ya. that would be the argument my kids will give to excuse their lazy.

that exact thing. find ways to ignore what is being said about getting the damn work done, so they dont have to get their ass in gear.

yup

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Wednesdays]

30. Hypocrisy matters.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9614756

[seabeyond]

33. hypcrisy matters to me. i dont see what that has to do with my posts. nt

[Wednesdays]

34. I think we're in agreement that hypocrisy is a bad thing.

nt

[seabeyond]

36. and the sky is blue. but when the sky isnt blue. so what? nt

[kctim]

22. Exactly!

[Lars39]

26. It assumes that every child walking thru those doors is coming

from a stable home, where there is no drama, plenty to eat, and routine. It's black and white thinking. So many kids now are doing without the basics.

[seabeyond]

27. and then there is that. i watch kids every day at the highschool

i watch the body language, the face.... i think about the home environment that is such that they "almost" just do not have a chance.

you are right lars.

[Xenotime]

20. We need reight wingers to stop taking over our schools.

[seabeyond]

21. left is doing a damn good job too. we blame school and teachers for everything

i am seeing more and more restrictions being put in place to try and appease the nation. it does not matter what they do, there are going to continue to be the kids that drop out and refuse to learn. we ignore this. and blame the school. so more rules are implemented.

i have argued the whole charter school thing for a decade. yet, i see more and more parents blaming the school when it is little johnny not doing his part.

[Greyhound]

24. Not the left, just Democrats. n/t

[Wednesdays]

29. What's the security like there usually?

Do they have metal detectors at the doors? Are students' belongings searched as they enter the building?
:shrug:

[Brickbat]

32. Charter school, eh?

Imagine that.

Have you talked to the school or with other parents?

Also, not accepting excuses is hardly "right wing."

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. Put him back in public school

You don't have to put up with this. You have a choice.

[Javaman]

38. moron school authorities...

when I was in school there would be unannounced inspections of lockers while all the kids were in class. Some kids put their own locks and not ones issued by the school on their lockers. Those were cut off.

All of them were checked.

There was always a huge pile of drugs and weapons found, among other things. Kids are sometimes stupid when it comes to trying to be clever. "who would ever think to look in my locker?"

The culprits were rounded up and dealt with. A few off to prison. I knew of two personally.