The school had received multiple bomb threats that had proved to be bogus. But, there was no way of knowing that until the school had been emptied and completely checked out, including all book bags, etcetera.
The parent felt as if parents’ rights of participation had been ignored and his toes stepped on since the school board, along with local law enforcement, made the decision without parental input.
As I read, I wondered what he would have thought had one of the threats not been bogus and one or more of his kids killed. After all, the schools in which killings have occurred had advance notice of the potential of violence (which were ignored).
Obviously, guns and bombs must get into schools by some means other than carrying them out in the open. Logically, they are hidden and sneaked in. How? Well, one would think in book bags, lunch containers, or under clothing, such as coats and jackets.
Since we seem to be ignoring the underlying basis for the problem and, instead, insist on treating the symptoms, then restricting the above means of hiding weapons seems as if it could help greatly in preventing weapons and bombs from getting into buildings.
I would almost bet that in every school which has had violent deaths that none thought it would happen in their schools, that they did not have children capable opening fire on their classmates. And I would also bet that had the schools taken the same action as the district in Oscoda prior to a shooting that there would have been a parent voicing the same ridiculous objection.
Actions must be taken and the first action should be to prohibit the means of sneaking deadly weapons into schools. It is far more reasonable than doing away with Second Amendment rights.
Therefore, I think the board and local law enforcement should be commended. When you get right down to it, what is the necessity for book bags? Coats, I understand in inclement weather. As for carrying lunches in see-through bags, why not?
Perhaps coats should be taken off in a monitored area as soon as entering the building, kept in a controlled fashion, and only allowed to be picked up by the students when leaving.
Since most parents believe the schools are theirs, then parents should be stepping forward to help protect the students, rather than finding objection to logical controls. Parents could help in searching coats and jackets while the kids are entering the schools and volunteer to monitor the coats (coat check operation).
So, rather than adding to the problems schools face, be part of the solution and commend any positive action.