Baring your backpack to bolster school safety

philly.com ^ | 07/23/07 | Dan Hardy

[Don Corleone]

Yeah! Then read the article on Drudge this AM about Phoenix Sky Harbor security!

[theDentist]

Whew! That solves it.

[albie]

What next? We all wear see thru clothing and walk bent over exposing our anal cavity to be sure we’re not hiding weapons!?

These libs are absolutely out of control! A parent is responsible for EVERYTHING their kid does until age 18! Period! Stiffer penalties for the parents of these kids would remedy the problem.

[Just another Joe]

Brandon Hemmen, a senior, said the clear bags will make it easy for thieves who already rip off students every day.

Well, it will make it easier to see which girls are on their periods.

And as for safety issues, here's the principles answer.
Hayes, the principal, when asked about stealing, said that iPods and cell phones are not supposed to be carried anyway. "This may actually cut down on theft," he said. Students can keep personal items in purses or small bags, he said.

So, they don't want submachine guns and rifles coming to school in the cloth backpacks but a pistol in a "purse or small bag" is just fine.

Oh yes, that really makes sense.

[Red Badger]

We didn’t have “backpacks” when I was in High School........How else could a guy offer to carry a pretty girl’s books for her?........

[TornadoAlley3]

No doubt.

[Red Badger]

...but a pistol in a "purse or small bag" is just fine.

As long as it's used only for self defense, I have no problem with it........

[RonF]

How did I get through 8 years of elementary school, 4 years of high school, 4 years of undergraduate school and 2 years of graduate school carrying a few books in my hand and a couple of pens and pencils in my pockets?

[Mark was here]

A local High School, Eisenhower, was referred to as Ike-atraz.

[Malacoda]

Indeed. My mo works in a prison (I like to say she's been in prison in five states now), and all employees have to carry their essentials in a small, clear plastic, zippered clutch. Think bank deposit bag.

This is m=to make sure no contraband gets in.

Sadly, public schools and prisons have a lot more in common.

[Just another Joe]

I wasn't commenting on the fact of actually having a weapon.
I was commenting on the idiocy of banning cloth backpacks, requiring see through backpacks, or book bags, yet letting students have "purses" or "small bags" that are NOT see through.

Have you seen the SIZE of some of those purses?
Submachine gun? I could fit a small TANK in one of those.

[Red Badger]

Oh, okay!........nevvermiiiind.......

[KarlInOhio]

Now you'll have to carve out the insides of your history book to hide your pistol.

[aberaussie]

So I wonder if the ban includes messenger bags, which is what my daughter prefers over a backpack. She is homeschooled, though, and uses it to carry books to enrichment programs rather than school.

[Gabz]

UM.......private schools are doing this as well.........

[HIDEK6]

Suburban school officials are equally adamant that they must adopt more stringent measures to ensure safety.

It's remarkable that the education establishment has a problem and their solution is something other than "education." After all, haven't we been lectured endlessly that the solution to teenage pregnancy, underage drinking, joyriding, lice in the hair and all other societal ills is "education!'?

I wonder why the education establishment doesn't try using "education" to address this problem?

Maybe they could start by teaching the Judeo-Christian moral principles.

[showme_the_Glory]

When cloth backpacks are outlawed......nevermind

[cinives]

Parents of boys aren’t raising gentlemen anymore.