New Walk-through Metal Detectors at High Schools

[angelburst29]

End of August and the first week of September are the traditional "Go back to School" schedule in our area.

This morning, reading local news, I came across an article that froze me in my tracts. Not, that it wasn't expected at some point, considering TSA surprise visits at School activities, like Prom's and football games and staged Police Drills conducted in full riot gear but to read that Walk-through Metal Detectors have been installed for the new class year, without public announcement (until now) was like hitting a brick wall.

We pay a School Tax, yet have no say in how it's spent. Nor, was this situation ever brought up in City Council or before the School Boards for consideration? Even if the Metal Detectors were sponcered through Federal Grant money, we still have to pay for the extra personel to man them. Psychologically, what message are we sending our children - in the name of protection? Do I need to install one at my home, at the front and back door, to provide the same psychological "safety-net" and if I can't afford to do so, does that make me a bad Parent?

For many years, I have noticed the practice of small neighborhood schools, condense into larger schools. Then the outcry that "the schools were over crowded" and new one's needed to be built. Yet, the economy and income has fluctuated, mainly down but they built the new schools, anyways, squeezing the taxpayers and homeowners further into a financial hole.

Construction wasn't limited to a City block and a multi-tier building like a standard University. Instead, the new schools would consist of 4-5 buildings, connected but in a fan style shape on a large 20 acre or more lot, which meant building outside of the main population/business areas into country settings with the majority of students being bused back and forth. Parent's who had purchased or rented homes within city limits with the intent of being close to store's, medical care, work place and schools were now, either driving their children out of town to drop them off at school and driving back into town to go to work or watching them get bused out to the outshirts of town. For many families, it meant multi-tasking schedules and the inconvienances and stress that went with it.

Now, the message we're getting. "Our kids aren't safe in school - they need heavy protection - with Metal Detectors at School Entrances and Security Checks with frisking at normal school activities?"

Another troubling aspect, is in the "way" the Metal Detectors are put into use, described in the news article (link below). "School officials say metal detectors will be at three main entrances at the school. One for the boys, one for the girls, and a third for students carrying large bags and musical instruments."

What's this - one for boys - one for girls - a third for students carrying large bags, etc.? A form of Segregation?

Here's the link and the news story below.
http://wnep.com/2012/08/28/metal-detectors-added-to-hazleton-area-high-school/

HAZLETON — There will be something new when students return to the Hazleton Area High School on Thursday: metal detectors at all the entrances.

School officials say a changing community led to the increase in safety and metal detectors are now in place at four of the buildings on the campus.

When Hazleton Area student Monica Abdelmalek walks through the front doors of the high school on Thursday, she`ll pass through one of these metal detectors. They`re new this year, something Monica and her mom says will help keep the kids safe.

“I feel like it`s going to make a difference. It`s going to make it more safe but I feel like it`s not going to stop everything that happens here,” said Monica Abdelmalek.

“Yeah, that`s good that I feel it`s very good to have more. Everyone protected here you know what I mean,” said Monica’s mom Neama.

School officials say metal detectors will be at three main entrances at the school. One for the boys, one for the girls, and a third for students carrying large bags and musical instruments.

Superintendent Dr. Francis Antonelli wouldn`t say if the metal detectors are a direct result of past investigations involving weapons or ammunition inside the school.

But he did tell Newswatch 16 “in our communities we have violent acts occurring and any school is a reflection of the community it serves.”

All three of Debbie Lutzick`s children went to Hazleton Area High School.

“I think it`s awesome. I know they are protected. This is a big school. I know they will be safe and they come from Weatherly which is a small school. This one is bigger and I heard there`s a lot of fighting going on here too,” said Lutzick.

Besides the high school, metal detectors are also now in place at the ninth grade center, the career center, and the administration building. (End of article).

I'm really upset with this new developement in our schools. How can you consider it a safety measure when - just the thought of what they are doing, makes me cringe inside? Instead of feeling - they're safe - I want to do something to protect them from this abuse? This is totally - wrong!

 

[Mrs. Peel]

I'm really upset with this new developement in our schools. How can you consider it a safety measure when - just the thought of what they are doing, makes me cringe inside? Instead of feeling - they're safe - I want to do something to protect them from this abuse? This is totally - wrong!

Abuse? The metal detectors? I would be glad to know my that kid would be safe in school, and that no "shooter" could just walk through the doors and start blowing people away. I guess you do read the news as you quoted an article, but look around you. People are going off EVERYWHERE. Even in the wealthy neighborhood schools, drugs are rampant. I read about children bringing guns to school all the time.

I'm not sure why this is upsetting you so much, unless it is because it may raise your taxes?

 

[anart]

I'm really upset with this new developement in our schools. How can you consider it a safety measure when - just the thought of what they are doing, makes me cringe inside? Instead of feeling - they're safe - I want to do something to protect them from this abuse? This is totally - wrong!

Abuse? The metal detectors? I would be glad to know my that kid would be safe in school, and that no "shooter" could just walk through the doors and start blowing people away. I guess you do read the news as you quoted an article, but look around you. People are going off EVERYWHERE. Even in the wealthy neighborhood schools, drugs are rampant. I read about children bringing guns to school all the time.

I'm not sure why this is upsetting you so much, unless it is because it may raise your taxes?

I think the concern is that they've turned a school environment, which should be supportive, safe and creative, into a prison environment which is about control. Also, it appears they installed these things without asking the community. It really normalizes being searched by the authorities for every child in that school. It also normalizes being a suspect without cause.

Yes, there are guns in school and drugs in schools and it's a reflection of our society, but metal detectors do not make a school safe. What they do is make the student body more compliant and used to being passively searched every day.

 

[bngenoh]

What kind of people would be operating the metal detectors, would it be similar to the people who work for the TSA at their increasing check points?

The public school environment in the USSA has been more of a prison environment than anything else, this just makes it obvious, and all in the name of "safety" too.

 

[Mrs. Peel]

I think the concern is that they've turned a school environment, which should be supportive, safe and creative, into a prison environment which is about control. Also, it appears they installed these things without asking the community. It really normalizes being searched by the authorities for every child in that school. It also normalizes being a suspect without cause.

OK, I see your point. The Pittsburgh public school system has metal detectors in all it's schools, cameras inside school buildings and on property, in addition to security guards. The doors are also locked throughout the day and visitors must be buzzed in. In Butler County, mobile metal detectors are rolled into place randomly and unannounced. Most local venues have metal detectors, and the local amusement park has had them for years. People seem to accept it all without question.

I guess that's the problem.

 

[angelburst29]

On a psychological level, yes, I feel that metal detector screening every child entering a school, divided between rows of "boys" and "another for girls" is a form of abuse, a false sense of security. Although, I could reason checking out large bags and musical instruments.

Metal detectors don't protect forms of bulling, racial remarks or bad behavior or drugs. I realize, the metal detectors primary function is to screen for metal in the form of knives and guns but a high percentage of High Schools have never had a incident of this type. It's a drastic protocol for a non existent problem, in most cases. Much in line with the TSA screenings at airports. The underwear bomber was a set-up.

Yes, I have read news reports of several incidences of knives or guns creating an event in or surrounding school property but they are few and far between. I also have to ask myself, how many - may have been pre-planned "false-flag" events to justify a hidden agenda on another level? Since 911, what we were led to believe and what has actually surfaced as "the Truth" leads me to question "things that feel out of place without logical reason."

Metal Detector screening is but one concern, the new School Fire Drill Protocal is another. In the past, safety fire drills were conducted with a planned exit and a designated area away from the building, either the furthest part of the parking lot or beyond, as instructed. Beginning last quarter in the school year (last Fall) students have been placed on buses and cell phones collected before boarding and the bus drove to an undisclosed location off school property. Generally, Parent's are notified, either by a slip of paper or email that an emergency fire drill will be conducted within three school days. No one received notice, not even the teachers. Why transporting off school property, if it's just a drill? Why were cell phone's confiscated as students left the building before instructed to board buses? Why weren't parent's notified?
Why did the buses travel the Interstate and take an exit about 20 minutes away, only to park the bus in a Shopping Mall Park area for over a half hour (students remained inside) before getting permission for a return trip back to the school? This event was repeated a second time, with four school districts in the area practicing the Drill at the same time. It took me several days to confirm, that all four schools bused the students off school property and to an undisclosed (at the time) location 15-20 minutes away.

When Parent's found out what happened, they called the school to ask questions and complain but it was the end of the school year and answers were in the form of "for the safety of the children."

So, it's a combination of factors. The most recent, being the Metal Detector's that have me concerned "as to motive" of a drastic measure in the name of security. Palm scanning for school lunches is another idem being introduce - for security in some schools.

 

[flycat]

Metal Detector screening is but one concern, the new School Fire Drill Protocal is another. In the past, safety fire drills were conducted with a planned exit and a designated area away from the building, either the furthest part of the parking lot or beyond, as instructed. Beginning last quarter in the school year (last Fall) students have been placed on buses and cell phones collected before boarding and the bus drove to an undisclosed location off school property. Generally, Parent's are notified, either by a slip of paper or email that an emergency fire drill will be conducted within three school days. No one received notice, not even the teachers. Why transporting off school property, if it's just a drill? Why were cell phone's confiscated as students left the building before instructed to board buses? Why weren't parent's notified?
Why did the buses travel the Interstate and take an exit about 20 minutes away, only to park the bus in a Shopping Mall Park area for over a half hour (students remained inside) before getting permission for a return trip back to the school? This event was repeated a second time, with four school districts in the area practicing the Drill at the same time. It took me several days to confirm, that all four schools bused the students off school property and to an undisclosed (at the time) location 15-20 minutes away.

When Parent's found out what happened, they called the school to ask questions and complain but it was the end of the school year and answers were in the form of "for the safety of the children."

So, it's a combination of factors. The most recent, being the Metal Detector's that have me concerned "as to motive" of a drastic measure in the name of security. Palm scanning for school lunches is another idem being introduce - for security in some schools.

This is not normal and reeks of suspicious behavior on part of the school. Taking personal property of a student? That is a big NO in my book, and in combination with driving off, is not normal. It stinks big time. I want to know where my child is the whole time, by me calling him. If someone were to take his phone and drive him off to an unknown location, first thing is I would call the police on kidnap suspicions. This has nothing to do with fire drills, if my feeling is correct. If something is on fire, it is enough to get out and away to get out of danger. Transporting children by bus could be beneficial if there is a big danger from the fire, but taking away the phone is where the line is drawn. Those who did that would have to give some serious explanations about what their intentions were and wth were they thinking. This is serious matter and should be taken as such by the parents. As for the answer "safety of the children" - they could explain in particular how exactly is that what they did going to keep the children safe and from what or who. I bet they would have no good answers for their weird actions.

My child is instructed to call me or the police in case if anyone tries to take any of their belongings forcibly, and that is how it is supposed to be. This conduct of the schools is not only very very, and did I say very suspicious, it is also totally unacceptable.

 

[angelburst29]

Parents are only learning of the Metal Detectors now. This news article, being the first indication but we have since learned (through some Parent's having connections to School Board Members) that all High Schools will be outfitted with Metal Detectors. No other information is forth coming, as to who or how many will be involved with the process.

It's ironic in a sense, as one Parent mentioned to me. The whole general area has been entrenched in the Penn State - Sandusky sexual abuse - Joe Pa scandal that no one gave High School matters a second thought? Which brings to mind, do University's/College's have Metal Detectors installed, too?

 

[Teresa]

I think the concern is that they've turned a school environment, which should be supportive, safe and creative, into a prison environment which is about control. Also, it appears they installed these things without asking the community. It really normalizes being searched by the authorities for every child in that school. It also normalizes being a suspect without cause.

OK, I see your point. The Pittsburgh public school system has metal detectors in all it's schools, cameras inside school buildings and on property, in addition to security guards. The doors are also locked throughout the day and visitors must be buzzed in. In Butler County, mobile metal detectors are rolled into place randomly and unannounced. Most local venues have metal detectors, and the local amusement park has had them for years. People seem to accept it all without question.

I guess that's the problem.

On Tuesday and entire school district in California went into lockdown because of a bank robbery that happened in the area of one school. No one was allowed in or out of the school until the lockdown was lifted, so parents had to wait until it was lifted in order to pick up their kids of from school (it was the end of the day). While I commend the district for trying to protect children, I thought it was overkill and that the parents should have been allowed to decide for themselves if their own kids should stay at school or go home with them. Just another example of schools acting more like juvenile detention facilities.

 

[Gwenllian]

Angelburst29, it might be a good idea to watch the documentary 'The war on kids'. As I wrote in another thread: it is painful to watch, but it might help in some way.

http://www.thewaronkids.com/MAIN.html

I cannot copy their synopsis, I am afraid.

FWIW.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

I am no expert, but think this is what happens when we have politics mixed with education. When politicians determine what is appropriate for the educational system then what do we expect to happen? Teachers who care are forced to practice civil disobedience when they can, but still must conform to many of these standards just to keep their jobs. The public educational system in America is extremely flawed, but at the same time there are some amazing teachers who work hard to make genuine differences in the lives of their students.

 

[Guardian]

What if one of the metal detectors goes off? An underwire bra, steel arches in boots, etc. Does this give the people manning the machines a right to fondle the unfortunate child?

 

[David]

A certain level of protection would probably create an amount of cognitive ease for some students and teachers, but what are the students internalising as they pass by metal detectors, security, everyday.

Is that internalisation going to maintain a type of entropy, by design slowly encompassing the psyche.

Where ‘Will’ is just the name of the student sitting behind you, and security the price for freedom


(internalisation - Redirect)

 

[angelburst29]

I first started this thread, when it was announced in local media, that metal detectors had been installed in several High Schools, in preparation for the new school year. Prior to this announcement, nothing had appeared in public, via news or Council meetings - to inform the Parent's or Student-body of this new developement.

In a real sense, it was another "shock n'aw" and "the Parent's are the last to know" type of reaction of many concerned Parent's, including myself. We finished off the last school year, not getting any justification of why students were bused "off location" during supposed Fire Drills, other than - "For the safety of the children?" Now, we start off the new school year with metal detectors?

I just came across an article, that may shed some light on the sudden practice (within the last year) of busing students off school property and campuses?

http://aworldchaos.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/obama-and-fema-create-civilian-army-trained-in-domestic-preparedness/

The part I want to highlight is this:
"Back in March, under the term terror drills many students nationwide were bused off to FEMA camps (or prison camps) without their parent’s permission and even prior knowledge. Schools in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey participated in “evacuation” or “relocation” drills that took children off campus to “alternative locations” which only served to further terrorize them.

Exposing our children to staged scenarios such as a shooter killing fellow classmates or inventing a villain which would necessitate student to board busses en mass and be taken to an undisclosed location where they would be safe - frightened parents who found out after the fact that their children had been forced to participate." (End quote.)

Personally, I don't see where "safety" comes into this equation, for the Student's or their Parent's?

The full article, itself, gives some idea of how the social structure has changed and morphed into a Police State. "No child has been left behind!"

Full article below:

On August 13th a new class of 231 FEMA Corps members graduated to assist the US government in future disaster preparedness whether state sponsored or natural. These members trained with at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and will be leaders at FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness where they will be assigned specific roles ranging from community relations to Disaster Recovery Center support.

The CNCS is a federal agency that “engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, "United We Serve."

They utilize local communities for the sake of public-private partnerships to rework the structure of those communities to serve the needs of the federal government. By implanting pro-government propaganda, using rural resources for the benefit of private sector corporations under the guise of “fostering civic engagement”, the CNCS revisions the American landscape to reflect their agendas as directed by the US government.

A five year strategic plan outlined by the CNCS explains how a network of programs aimed at collaborating 6 areas designated as “priority” is:

• Disaster Services
• Economic Opportunity
• Education
• Environmental Stewardship
• Healthy Futures
• Veterans and Military Families

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009 (EKSAA) is the stratagem that is the basis of volunteerism that is government mandated. When Obama signed the EKSAA, he expected Americans to take communitarianism to heart and act accordingly. Obama said: “We need your service, right now, at this moment in history. . . I’m asking you to stand up and play your part. I’m asking you to help change history’s course. Put your shoulder up against the wheel. And if you do, I promise you – your life will be richer, our country will be stronger, and someday, years from now, you may remember it as the moment when your own story and the American story converged, when they came together, and we met the challenges of our new century.”

This initiative employs citizen battalions of government trained Americans, ages 18 – 24, to serve with the federal government in a new generation of emergency managers.

In 2009, President Obama said that: “We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.”

Intimating that the internal affairs of the US necessitate a civilian army because America’s security was threatened from within harkens to dictators of the past that created their own youth groups of trained citizens that were brainwashed into believing that continuity of government supersede basic adherence to fundamental human rights, i.e. Hitler’s Youth Group.

According to the FBI-sponsored Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) there are indeed internal threats such as Constitutional militias, Americans who pay for goods and services in cash, and the ever-present Islamic extremists.

The FEMA Corps have doubted the size of AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps with a civilian army trained and ready to follow orders disseminated by the federal government. In March, Obama announced that the DHS and FEMA would devoted 1,600 service corps members to disaster preparedness, response and recovery. By combining FEMA and the DHS, the federal government’s reach is doubled and more assured whether the disaster is “man-made or natural.”

The Boy Scouts of America have taken a darker role in securitizing our nation with a new mission replete with fighting terrorism, engaging in sequestering illegal immigrants and being brainwashed to exude a militarized mentality.

DHS and the FBI combined to indoctrinate American youth by “training thousands of young people in skills used to confront terrorism, illegal immigration and escalating border violence — an intense ratcheting up of one of the group’s longtime missions to prepare youths for more traditional jobs as police officers and firefighters.”

These government-sponsored Boy Scouts were expected to be impromptu law-enforcement who is targeting the known enemy as defined by Islamic or Arabic overtones. The Obama youth group are trained for any challenges that would-be faced in a globalist-controlled future.

Now the US government is developing a citizen corps called Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) that take neighborhood watches and regular citizens and turn them into basic responders to disaster scenarios with workshops and training exercises.

This concept was beta-tested by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. After the Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987, the LAFD decided to train citizens and government employees in disaster response training. FEMA and other agencies of the US government have taken this concept into their own hands by creating a federalized and state-controlled version to set clear priories and dispense responders in any given disaster situation.

Under CERT, citizens are trained and approved by FEMA to access the resources of any given community, partner with local law enforcement, recruit participants and infiltrate community groups to further indoctrinate the public as to knowing specifically how the federal government wants Americans to respond during a disaster.

Back in March, under the term terror drills many students nationwide were bused off to FEMA camps (or prison camps) without their parent’s permission and even prior knowledge. Schools in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey participated in “evacuation” or “relocation” drills that took children off campus to “alternative locations” which only served to further terrorize them.

Exposing our children to staged scenarios such as a shooter killing fellow classmates or inventing a villain which would necessitate student to board busses en mass and be taken to an undisclosed location where they would be safe frightened parents who found out after the fact that their children had been forced to participate. (End of article.)