Posts: 3094
Re: Fifth Grader Suspended For Wearing Anti-Obama Shirt
« Reply #39 on: Today at 02:56:44 PM » Quote
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Don, several things.
First of all, do you appreciate it when you read news articles about teachers strip-searching all kids in a class when an item has been stolen? No
Or schools tracking students with CCTV cameras? CCTV is a good idea when used correctly and in some schools.
Or teachers searching kids' bags and lockers without any kind of process, to look for Evil Wepinz or Demon rum Weed?Locker searches If a reason to search lockers exists, ok by me.
That has nothing to do with respect for teachers. That has to do with the basic dignity of a human being. It does not improve your learning environment a single bit to do that. Worse, it inculcates the completely wrong sort of values to them. I don't want to live in a society that grew up in an environment like that.
The argument that kids do not have the same rights as adults does not mean we can do whatever the hell we want to them. And in answer to your question, I do think a 'child' that is sixteen or seventeen should be treated with some form of deference to his autonomy that perhaps a toddler would not warrant. Agreed, that is why I said no corporal punishment past eighth grade as far as I am concerned.
Nor are the
For the record, my father is a former teacher and I tutor ten-year-olds.
Nor is the fact that the government supposedly acts in loco parentis a justification of this form of behavior. Parents are not completely free to do what they want with their children. A parent who strip-searches his son or daughter would probably be prosecuted for child abuse of some form. Parents are not allowed to apply unlimited discipline and neither should be schools. Teachers are further limited by law - corporal punishment is prohibited, for example, as it should be. No, I don't think it is in TN, strip searches I agree with you. I don't agree with corporal punishment after eighth grade.
Is it too much to ask that strip-searching and tracking off the students' behavior outside school be removed from the power of the teacher? A teacher would have to be brain dead to strip search a student. Classroom teachers do not have the authority to strip search I leave that to the administration. As far as after school behavior is concerned, the school is generally responsible until the student gets home.For the record, my father is a former teacher and I tutor ten-year-olds.