Flap Over Jersey Schools Regulating Student Behavior 24-7

Millennium Radio New Jersey ^ | Thursday, March 22, 2007 | David Matthau

[Calpernia]

Is Big Brother coming to a school near you?

Last month the Pequannock school board made national headlines when it began to randomly administer a new high-tech test - that determines whether a student consumed any alcohol in the previous 4 days.

A few days ago, the Moorestown school board approved a tough new drug and alcohol policy that regulates student behavior 24-7 - even on weekends and over the summer.

Some parents are voicing outrage at what's happening, but Mike Yaple, a spokesman with the New Jersey School Boards Association says there is a State regulation that addresses this very issue- that indicates "schools do have the right to impose a consequence on a student for conduct away from school grounds - it goes on to say that it has to be reasonably necessary for the physical or emotional safety of the student, or other students or staff."

He says "you're seeing a change in attitudes- the absolute realization that drugs ruin lives- and school officials aren't going to turn the other way if kids are doing drugs."

After being contacted by Millennium Radio News for comment, Deborah Jacobs, the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey issued a written statement saying "The desire to protect young people from the dangers of drug abuse is understandable, but what kids do over the weekend is their parents' business. The school district is overstepping its authority with a punitive policy that disregards family privacy and parental authority."

[Calpernia]

ping

[Daffynition]

Reason #17 to not to fall alseep in class after a weekend drinking binge.

[pandoraou812]

Good morning...in Brick we have a policy too now for a a few years. If your child got into a fight at the park etc after school they could suspend him/her. They would drug test any child who fell asleep during class too. I don't really remember them using it but it was there to deter children from getting in trouble. We were having many problems at the mall & movies so they did this to stop it IMO. I know that none of my boys were subject to it. The youngest son, now 20 got hit from behind at the movies, he turned told the kid to get out of his area. The boy went at him again & Jon hit him so hard he knocked him out. After picking him up at the police station they told me to get him into boxing. The school didn't say a word & had they I would have got a lawyer. I think its getting to the point where they need to mind their own business. I just want them to TEACH! Not teach my child about anything related to gays or global warming. I should be doing that.

[Calpernia]

This law was during summer too?

[pandoraou812]

I really don't know. I thought it was silly....My boys were NO saints but had anyone tried to infringe on their out of school life I would have fought it. The school is going too far....IMHO.

[Calpernia]

This new policy Morristown is imposing includes summers.

Watch the schools jump to add the food policy to it.

Watch, since they will be 'responsible' for the children's behavior off school hours, we will have to register their where abouts.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1561077/posts
Animal Tagging and SCHOOL LUNCHES???

[mtbopfuyn]

It's not a law. It's merely words on paper from the dept. of education or the local school. If the school board members think about enforcing it, the parents will see they're voted out. With all this, I'm hoping the SC will shoot down that Bong Hits for Jesus. The lower courts have ruled in favor of the kid and I'm sure the SC will as well.

GO BONG KID!!! GO BONG KID!!! GO BONG KID!!!

[mware]

I am a public school teacher here in NJ.

Fair enough, they want to test the kids, then line up the teachers and board members for the same tests.

That will end all this nonsense.

[Calpernia]

Forget about the drug testing. That is the red herring.

This policy is making the schools responsible for the chldren's behavior on and off hours.

That makes the parents the 'stakeholders' just like in the wording of Healthy People 2010.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1563271/posts
Healthy People 2010

[pandoraou812]

I don't know what to think ...maybe its because they are having many problems with the kids? I think the school is taking over too much of a parent's duty. In Brick it was getting really bad like I posted before with the kids out of control at the movies and mall. They even put a little mini police station at the shopping center. The kids were harassing the elderly and nobody normal wanted to go to the movies. We were getting kids in from all the surrounding towns and there was a problem. I don't see where the school has a right to be involved in my child's life after he/she leaves for the day. We also had a big problem with after school fighting. Gangs of kids would show up at the park to fight each other. My son Jon was not a bad kid but he wouldn't back down from a fight if someone hit him. My husband told him in anyone gets in your space, within an arms reach , or hits you 1st then defend yourself. I'm not for fighting but that year was the one that I think Jon had just had enough. He had been picked on for yrs and walked away. He just all of a sudden grew to 6ft and he was tired of the bs with the football group. He kicked a$$ quite a few times right in school. He was lucky because he filmed all school events so the principals all liked him. He would get suspended but I could understand his point. He never hit 1st. For all this bs about Brick being so safe I really don't see it. I still don't bother going to the movies because of the huge amount of nasty kids on the weekends who hang out there.

[carolinalivin]

I have already foreseen my death. Telling someone to be quiet in a movie theatre and then getting shot in return.

[pandoraou812]

I wont go to them. I see no point. I would rather wait & get movies on dvd. Those kids are horrors, they toss stuff all around. I just figure why get abused & pay for it.

[carolinalivin]

In my retirement job I work at home a lot. Sometimes during the week, I'll just get up and walk 7 blocks and see a movie. Kids are in school.

My biggest problem is old folks like me who have to explain the movie to each other, someone who wants to provide a running commentary, or some couple that thinks they're at home and can gab it up all the way through.

I usually sit center and will be there a few minutes early. Just before the lights go down. some idiots will come in and sit near me. I'm a magnet.

[pandoraou812]

I hear you...I am one too. If theres a nut or strange person they find me & tell me all their problems. Drives my husband nuts. He says walk away but I feel bad. I am forever talking to elderly ladies in the supermarket. I think they're just lonely & it doesn't hurt to be nice to them. I get good food tips too. Plus they are nice to my daughter who has no grandma's so she likes to talk with them. ~P~

[dfwgator]

So do they do the same for the teachers and other school administrators?

[Calpernia]

I hate being right. Now I feel sick.

0-12 - Engaging community stakeholders

Engage students' families and homes, service agencies, youth-serving organizations, local businesses, faith-based institutions, and other community resources to enhance school health, mental health, and safety programs.

	Rationale

Schools are one element in a community that can help families keep children safe and healthy as well as promote their learning and citizenship skills. As schools do not and should not have sole responsibility for students' health, mental health, and safety, the support of families and community agencies is essential for school programs.

	Commentary

Schools often have insufficient resources to provide a comprehensive and multifaceted continuum of interventions. By having direct contact with families and key informants in the community, schools are better able to identify barriers to student success and well-being and better equipped to develop solutions that overcome these barriers. Schools can enhance home-school links by sharing concerns with families and developing solutions that address students' unique needs.

In addition to the benefits for students' education and well-being, students' families, and school staff, there are reciprocal benefits for community agencies who partner with schools. Businesses, the justice system, community health and safety systems, and others may benefit from a healthier population. Community agencies and organizations that provide services to children and families often gain a more visible profile when they become partners with schools.

Examples of neighborhood stakeholders in student health and well-being are students themselves, as well as their families and teachers. Other school staff, community business owners, police, faith-based institutions, universities and colleges, local health departments, health and mental health service providers, dentists, emergency medical services, educators of first-aid, departments of health, justice, education and social services, and other agencies that serve families have stakes in the well-being of the student population and school staff. Communicate regularly with partners and potential partners in order to learn what each has to offer.

[ishabibble]

That is some very scary stuff. Thanks for putting it up, I must have missed the original. Bookmarked.

[Sopater]

I thought parents were responsible for student's behaviors between and even during school hours.

[Calpernia]

Parents have now been declared 'stakeholders' via this National Education Policy.