Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 31, 1995 TAG: 9505310054
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
No, it's not because the kids' school-bus antics are so cute that ``America's Funniest Home Videos'' might be interested. If only it were so trifling a use of taxpayers' money.
The installation of video cameras in Petersburg is an effort to prevent school-bus terrorism - to give to the drivers a measure of protection against the kids.
The School Board made the decision after two drivers recently were assaulted by students, and others staged a one-day walkout from their jobs to protest the dangers they say they're subjected to from students who act like goons.
In the current culture of violent acting out and diminished respect for other people, a culture that seems increasingly to suck in even little children, possibly no one should be surprised.
The public has come to accept the need for metal detectors and security guards in the schools, for police dogs regularly sniffing students' lockers for guns and drugs - why not electronic monitoring devices on school buses?
Still, if such developments are not surprising, they are no less lamentable.
Today, many taxpayers, including many parents of schoolchildren, complain that public schools are not providing a quality education in spite of tremendous amounts of money spent on them.
The schools could do better if they weren't being forced to divert sums and attention away from teaching to policing the children that society is sending them.
by CNB