Grady 'Locks Down" on its Safety Policies

Keesha Coleman

Staff writer

As Grady students sat in their classrooms finding the square root of-and discussing the symbolism in Native Son, teachers and administrators were on a search. The November 19 "Lock Down" policy was a routine attempt to remove illegal items from school premises.

Although this process is designed to promote safety, most students saw it as a violation. "We are entitled to maintain our privacy and some of us actually need the items [pagers and phones] that we bring to school," Sheena Johnson, junior, said.

Administrators defend the policy because of past experiences. "Last year we found illegal drugs such as marijuana and a few weapons. This is not the kind of environment that we want our students to have, which is the only reason we conduct the searches," Mr. Roosevelt Foreman, assistant principal stated.

This year the results of the search were more benign. Students who were checked for items such as pagers, phones, other electronics, and illegal substances had their items confiscated. Nevertheless, the only items taken from students were electronics. Most officials felt the implemented search was effective and necessary. "The "Lock Downs" in previous years had the largest impact on the success of this year's search. Because the students were aware that illegal items would be taken and harsh punishment would follow, this year they [students] tended not to bring those items to school, which creates a safer environment for the people within our school," Dr. Vincent Murray, principal said.

The "Lock Down" is not optional but is stated as a rule in the Atlanta Public School's handbook. "The students feel that we are trying to invade their privacy but that's not the issue. just as they have a job to come to school and receive a good education, we [school officials] are obligated to try to maintain a safe environment for our students and the searches are only one of the techniques that the school board has implemented to insure that," Officer Rufus Huffman, said.

Some parents have a problem with the "Lock Downs." Anna Jackson, mother of junior, Candis Jackson, was angered about the search when her daughter's pager was confiscated. "I did not purchase anything for my child so that someone who does not assist me financially to take away from her. I don't care if it is an APS rule. When electronic devices become a threat to students and teachers, that's when they [school officials] should ban the items from the school building," she said.

Some students at Grady understand that the rules and regulations exist and should be followed; however, despite the justification of these rules, the students still feel entitled to some form of privacy.

I don't blame the teachers and police officers for what they do [searches]. We [students] should not have illegal substances and weapons. But, being realistic about the issue, teachers and members of the Board of Education should understand that we actually need pagers and phones because they have them for the same reasons. They wouldn't want Dr. Canada [Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent] to take their personal belongings away from them so what's the point in taking ours," Majonica Lowe, junior stated.