http://boardbuzz.nsba.org/blog/2009/04/supreme-court-to-hear-oral-arguments-in-safford-v-redding/ A fast, sharp, informed read on important issues to school board members and to all public education advocates. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:57:21 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://boardbuzz.nsba.org/blog/2009/04/supreme-court-to-hear-oral-arguments-in-safford-v-redding/comment-page-1/#comment-5251 BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:23:45 +0000 http://boardbuzz.nsba.org/?p=3360#comment-5251 [...] may possess harmful drugs in violation of school policy. BoardBuzz previously covered this case in April during our discussion of the Washington Post’s article that wisely recognized the Court’s need [...] [...] may possess harmful drugs in violation of school policy. BoardBuzz previously covered this case in April during our discussion of the Washington Post’s article that wisely recognized the Court’s need [...]

]]> http://boardbuzz.nsba.org/blog/2009/04/supreme-court-to-hear-oral-arguments-in-safford-v-redding/comment-page-1/#comment-4794 Rachel Sun, 17 May 2009 07:58:17 +0000 http://boardbuzz.nsba.org/?p=3360#comment-4794 I concur with the above comment. The publicity surrounding the Savanna Redding case was a huge blot on the reputation of public education, and -- despite being a school board member -- I would not send my child to a school where I thought that could possibly happen. I concur with the above comment. The publicity surrounding the Savanna Redding case was a huge blot on the reputation of public education, and — despite being a school board member — I would not send my child to a school where I thought that could possibly happen.

]]> http://boardbuzz.nsba.org/blog/2009/04/supreme-court-to-hear-oral-arguments-in-safford-v-redding/comment-page-1/#comment-4131 Matt T Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:48:35 +0000 http://boardbuzz.nsba.org/?p=3360#comment-4131 While I was horrified by the crimes perpetrated by school officials against Savana Redding, those feelings have since deepened into a thorough sense of disgust at the school district and associations (National School Boards Association and American Association of School Administrators) that have risen to the defense of this abhorrent behavior. This case has huge implications for both sides (educators and students), and in my personal belief, it is a huge loss for both should Redding lose this case. Educators and their associations should be focusing on the risks inherent to the educator's safety if they legitimize abusing a child. If this case is lost, it will lead to an increase in strip-searches, which in turn will lead to an increase in exposure of educators to dangerous repercussions. In all but the most severe cases, strip-searches are counterproductive and unnecessary. In Savana's case they were unusually lucky that Savana's father isn't in the picture. Future strip-searchers wouldn't always be so lucky. Parents tend to get very emotional and irrational in cases which involve harm to their children. If there are concerns about drugs, and a normal search comes up empty, the parents should be notified and be brought in to supervise the strip search or have the option of bringing the police into the matter if that makes them more comfortable. I personally would have the police do it, since it would have less long term impact on my child. The police officer is not someone they have to walk past every day. Having them relive that humiliation every day would be too much to ask any child to deal with. The district in this case should have settled early and fired the administrator, plain and simple. The association is not protecting either students or administrators by supporting this case. If your associations continue to support the administrator this case, the adults in my district will be petitioning my administrators and school district to distance themselves from this kind of behavior by removing themselves from your associations. On a personal note, I know for a fact that my 12 year old daughter would be completely devastated by a strip-search. She has recently started puberty, and it has driven her from being outgoing and engaging to being shy, self-conscious and uncertain. I’m certain it will take years for her to adjust. Being such a sensitive time, a trauma like this could easily alter the entire course of her development and life. I will be instructing my son and daughter to never ever allow anyone to strip-search them. They are to insist upon calling their parents regardless of the outcome of this case. I respectfully ask you and your members to consider reason and not support the administrator and school district in this case. While I was horrified by the crimes perpetrated by school officials against Savana Redding, those feelings have since deepened into a thorough sense of disgust at the school district and associations (National School Boards Association and American Association of School Administrators) that have risen to the defense of this abhorrent behavior. This case has huge implications for both sides (educators and students), and in my personal belief, it is a huge loss for both should Redding lose this case. Educators and their associations should be focusing on the risks inherent to the educator’s safety if they legitimize abusing a child. If this case is lost, it will lead to an increase in strip-searches, which in turn will lead to an increase in exposure of educators to dangerous repercussions. In all but the most severe cases, strip-searches are counterproductive and unnecessary. In Savana’s case they were unusually lucky that Savana’s father isn’t in the picture. Future strip-searchers wouldn’t always be so lucky. Parents tend to get very emotional and irrational in cases which involve harm to their children.
If there are concerns about drugs, and a normal search comes up empty, the parents should be notified and be brought in to supervise the strip search or have the option of bringing the police into the matter if that makes them more comfortable. I personally would have the police do it, since it would have less long term impact on my child. The police officer is not someone they have to walk past every day. Having them relive that humiliation every day would be too much to ask any child to deal with.
The district in this case should have settled early and fired the administrator, plain and simple. The association is not protecting either students or administrators by supporting this case.
If your associations continue to support the administrator this case, the adults in my district will be petitioning my administrators and school district to distance themselves from this kind of behavior by removing themselves from your associations.
On a personal note, I know for a fact that my 12 year old daughter would be completely devastated by a strip-search. She has recently started puberty, and it has driven her from being outgoing and engaging to being shy, self-conscious and uncertain. I’m certain it will take years for her to adjust. Being such a sensitive time, a trauma like this could easily alter the entire course of her development and life.
I will be instructing my son and daughter to never ever allow anyone to strip-search them. They are to insist upon calling their parents regardless of the outcome of this case.
I respectfully ask you and your members to consider reason and not support the administrator and school district in this case.

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