Drug tests at school...

Well, since they're just minors, we can take even more of their Constitutionally guaranteed rights from them. Freedom of speech can go out the window, since it's just used by the disruptive, punishments for even the slightest of infractions can become more and more harsh, etc. Last time I checked, Constitutional rights didn't have an age limit.

Simply because parents aren't doing their job doesn't mean the state should do it for them. That way lies disaster, I think someone once said. Who gets to define what's "bad parenting" and how will "good parenting" be enforced? Lets just leave the parenting to the parents.

Adrian

Adrian, as a teacher I can tell you that your theory is great, but when applied to the world today, it doesn't work. Some of my kids have no "parenting" at home at all, and it is up to someone to pick up the slack. Being that a teacher sometimes spends more time with the children than the parents do, it is up to us to take on that role. In a perfect world, parents would take care of their kids, but it is far from a perfect world out there.

Exactly what I meant!!!

I realize that in the real world lots of parents suck at doing their job, but I find it hard to believe that the only answer is for the federal government to step in and do their job for them. Like I said before, who gets to determine what is "bad parenting?" Once that standard has been set, it's only a matter of time till the standard is expanded, and the penalties for it are strengthened. Failing to keep you kids off drugs will be expanded to failure to teach kids drugs are wrong (whether they're on them or not, screw personal opinion), and that will in turn be expanded into failure to make them go to anti-drug classes, etc. Giving government the power to oversee parenting is like putting Bonnie and Clyde in charge of bank security. We already know government makes a royal mess of whatever it sets its already limitless power to fixing, letting them intrude into parenting is a mistake of the highest order.

Adrian

I understand what you are saying about the gov.'t stepping in, but can you offer any alternatives? As far as who is to determine "bad parenting," when it gets to the point where students can't function anymore in school due to their homelife, I would say that is bad parenting. It is sad, but I see it more and more these days.

I am on the fence about that comment. In one way, it is a violation of rights but in another, maybe it is about time parents are held accountable for their children's actions. Like I said, the situation is only getting worse and something needs to be done. Again, what would you offer as alternatives?

I totally agree with adrian. Leave the parenting up to my mum, She knows wot shes doing. Teachers are basically strangers im sorry but they are. Just because some parents dont do their job "right" doesnt give teachers a right to step in. They are there to teach maths, english ect, I woyuld want my parents to do the other stuff. And the REALLY annoting thing is their is only afew teachers at MY school who gives a damn if your upset or something most of them only care about you lisething to their lesson and respecting them when most of them dont respect us and just see us as kids. It is just a control thing, teachers can invade are privacy. This is abit different but.. My maths teacher searched through my mates bag cos he kept laughing so he thought he wos pissed or something , Im sorry thats wrong. And taking notes off people and reading them out loud, taking things like caps and walkmans cos not spos to be on in class, and wont give then back unless a parent comes and pick it up. Some teachers even get annoyed when we have opinions and one teacher called my friend stupid coas she doesnt believe is jesus. And its ok for tyhem to swear but you swear and youer outta there in a shot.They should stick to teaching math and stop trying to run our life..

Mousebounce im not saying your liek this so dont take it wrong, Cos of course there are some great teachers too, Like my formt tutor..

Jade it is great that your mom "knows" what she is doing, but what about the other mom's who don't have a clue? If parents don't do their job right, who should step in? Should teachers just stand back and watch their kids flush their lives down the toilet due to bad parenting. Or should we try to help them succeed in any way we can and give them the support they are lacking? I am curious Jade, who do you think will help these kids, and don't they deserve a chance too??

Its the way they do it though, Alot of teachers dont respect us and they only care about you behaving in their lesson thwey never wonder why a kid is misbehaving all the time and want atention or w/e. they just punish them. Either that or they spend all the lesson concentrating on the ones who dont behave so us who do dont learn anything and sont ghet enough help. Maybe its just my shcool i dunno. But you cant tell me that a teacher has a right tyo search someones bag and take something off them and not give it back! That aint fair no matter wot you say.. My maths teqacher found some condoms in mymates bag and took them off her cos shes underage erm excuse me but that is stupid cos A) wot if she go ahs sex with no condom atleast she has safe sex!! And B) her mum may know shes having sex and is cool with it aslong as shes protected. It just isnt a teachers place to do that. If a teacher wants to help and they really do want to help a chid not just controll them and they do it in a nice way then that is great. But i think alot of teachers have too much controll, Maybe i would say that

the one thing you will learn very quickly when yo leave school, jade, is that teachers are a lot different to how you perceived them at the time. that meddling old bitch actually does care about you and what you do with your life. it will hit you soon enough.

Thanks Richie!! Although I don't consider myself an old ***** yet. Jade, I can't speak for your school, but keep in mind that your teacher has a job to do. You may not agree with the rules, but a teacher gets paid to follow them.