THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September, 2, 1994 TAG: 9408310172
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 25 lines
Most students don't commit violent crimes. We tend to forget that in the barrage of reports about the increasing number of youths who do. But remembering the kids who go to school to learn helps put the issue of individual privacy rights vs. school safety in proper perspective: When schools must choose between the two, a safe learning environment comes first.
Step 1 in establishing that priority was the legislature's approval of the Regional Superintendents' Safe Schools Task Force request that school officials be informed about students convicted of burglary, arson and offenses involving violence, drugs and weapons. Step 2 is using that information to get criminal kids out of classrooms. Step 3 is keeping them off the street, occupied more constructively - or at least less destructively - than violence, drugs, guns, burglary . . . by CNB