WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL OVER LOCKER SEARCHES?

Much has been written recently, including your recent editorial, about
school locker searches and the use of drug-sniffing dogs.

You correctly point out that the locker belongs to the school. The
searches could be authorized at the time the locker is assigned
through the use of a simple form stating that all lockers are subject
to random searches. This form would be signed by the parent, who, I
think, would be only too pleased that the school is looking out for
the child's welfare. If the form is not signed, then a locker is not
assigned and the student has to carry all excess baggage from
classroom to classroom.

A locker is not a space to hide something, and it is certainly not a
place for drug sellers to keep their inventory. Due cause for a search
can easily be established through the use of a drug-sniffing dog.
Unfortunately, they would not catch handguns, knives or explosives.

I have taught at a school where dogs were brought in for random
searches. It was all explained up-front to the students, and there
were no problems.

Teachers and administrators see the students for only a few hours each
day. Contrary to expectations, they have neither the time nor
responsibility to provide substitute parental control. The best that
the schools can do is to control their space and environment so that
students are not a danger to themselves or others.

So let's stop the hand-wringing and proceed to solving the issue.
After all, look at what happens daily at our airports - bodily
searches, luggage searches and being subjected to sniffing dogs.

Paul Tyksinski,

Kailua