Sleeping but Awake wrote on May 13, 2008 5:11 AM:Good gosh, the clowns continue to admisistrate at fallbrook high. The school board is going way too far with this ill advised move. Although the fourth amendment against unreasonable search and seizure does not exist for students it still is a terrible idea to teach the kids that the authorities will apply police state tactics to get recreational drugs off the campus. Drugs are not disrupting the class rooms or keeping kids from being sober as they decide. The police state tactics will not magically keep drugs out of the hands of kids who desire them. And, it is very likely that the drug we are talking about here is marijuana, not a signifcantly dangerous substance. This teaches that the protection of privacy is no longer important to individuals and directly contradicts learnings about what it means to be a free citizen in our great country. It teaches kids it is just fine for authority figures to over stretch in drug search activities and helps kids them become overbearing and self righteous adults. Now I know that the right wing fuddy duddy administration is doing what they think is right for the children. But they said it themselves, they could bust kids daily for drugs aka marijuana use on campus. Does anyone think that the drug dogs roaming the campus with police will really make a difference in kids smoking Pot, if you do I have a bridge to sell ya. Oh, by the way, nice job in informing the students that kids are safe from search if they simply keep their stash on their bodies, that will help your efforts. Lets teach self control and the safe and responsible use of recreational drugs like alcohol and marijuana rather than pretend police state tactics will fix something that really is not a problem. Marijuana is not herion or meth or crack, lets keep things in the proper perspective.

Jeff wrote on May 13, 2008 6:45 AM:TO: Sleeping but Awake.

Your type of logic is what has led to the rampant use of drugs by teens in the first place. You seem to be writing while trying to keep a straight face. Your message is marijuana is ok to have at school. No reasonable people believe that, only stoners and potheads bent on legalizing it. And if you don't think Fallbrook High has heroin, cocaine, or meth, you are out of your mind. It's probably a result of too much chronic affecting your brain.

realist wrote on May 13, 2008 6:50 AM:Illegal drugs are illegal. Enough said.

the weed today wrote on May 13, 2008 8:19 AM:is so potent it's not in the same ballpark of what we older people used to smoke! It truly is a DRUG with very high THC content. Try that on a young still developing brain and then tell me it's ok...it's not ok! "Burn outs" is what these stoners will become!! Why do you think SO many minimum wage jobs DRUG TEST today? I wouldn't want a stoner working for me!

Fallbrook HS mom wrote on May 13, 2008 8:31 AM:It's about time that the administration becomes pro-active in addressing this ongoing issue. Things are readily available - even if the kids don't have money to purchase their own, other kids are ready to share. We can do all that is possible at home, but when their supplier is at school - supposedly a "safe" place- the only alternative is to homeschool them.

It's too bad that things have progressed to this point, but it is action that has been sorely needed for years!

Frank F. wrote on May 13, 2008 8:40 AM:I had no idea drugs & recreation could be used in the same sentence. I'm sure marijuana isn't the only drug on campus.
It's a high SCHOOL not a social club.

John to realist wrote on May 13, 2008 8:50 AM:Mixed racial marriage used to be illegal. Did that make it OK to imprison offenders? Drug laws are misguided and do more harm than good. End prohibition.

Weed wrote on May 13, 2008 8:55 AM:he/she is saying that making this dog thing happen is gonna change it. its not gonna change anything. Im moving

Nightmare wrote on May 13, 2008 8:57 AM:Sleeping but awake is right. We are teaching our children how to be subservient to federal authority. Meanwhile, how many of these kids are hopped up on energy drinks, calmed on Attention Deficit meds, or happy on anti-depressants? How many of their parents are using? Viagra is a pleasure drug too, is it not? We are living a nightmare where big Pharma feeds us their wares and Big Government searches our children. So much for your drug free society.

LOL wrote on May 13, 2008 8:57 AM:To Sleeping but Awake

I am very upset with myself for wasting 2 minutes of my life reading the gibberish that you posted!!! And why are u so bent out of shape about it anyway? Are you afraid that some of your D-boys are going to get snatched up?!?!

To Jeff wrote on May 13, 2008 9:03 AM:Too bad you resorted to sensationalism, name calling and insulting insinuations to rebut the well reasoned comments from Sleeping but Awake. You lost the debate and made a mockery of the values of personal responsibility we are trying to instill in our children.

Sleeping but awake wrote on May 13, 2008 9:13 AM:To jeff, thanks for sharing your judgemental and defective reasoning with the newspaper and the world.

1) heroin, cocaine, or meth ARE NOT problems at FHS. To indicate that this is a problem at FHS falls squarely into paranoia and hysteria which unfortunately seems to be your frame of mind. Stop and think before you write and stop embarrassing yourself. Did you read the comments of teachers and administrators in the article, they are citing marijuana as the concern. Do not raise the fear factor way beyond reason or reality, that is just emotion and not logic or reason.

2) Recreational drug use at FHS is not caused by my letter or my attitude towards this matter. It is a reality of our society and no amount of perceived enforcement measures, including using dogs and police, will change this. Prohibition and legislation has failed and will continue to fail. Reasonable people, and there are many,many millions of us who share this belief, believe that recreational drug use is an educational issue and marijuana use is not to be criminalized. This is our well reasoned belief and not because we, many millions of americans, are stoners and potheads. Frankly, that is a silly argument to make and again indicates you are not up to the task of contributing to the discourse since this requires the use of logic and reason. Yes, teenagers should not have access to marijuana and alcohol in a perfect world. Alcohol in our real world is far more destructive to kids than pot. Police dogs and police patrols on campus will not do a thing to change kids experimenting with recreational drugs.

3)Illegal drugs are illegal drugs, very true. But the fact that recreational drugs are illegal does not mean that we teach our kids to trash the constitution and the fourth amendment. That is a genuine over reaction. Can we perhaps get our administrators out of there offices and oh so important meetings to do a little leading by walking around. Go and do random checks of the grounds and bathrooms between class when the little darlings are breaking the rules and bust offenders and discipline them before you call in the authorities. Shame on your folks who teach out kids that a quasi police state is the answer....stand up and act like our sacrifices as americans mean something

Dee wrote on May 13, 2008 9:14 AM:I understand what Sleeping but Awake is trying to say, however if I had a child at that school and they had to walk through a cloud of marijuana smoke to use the restroom, I'd be hoping the school would be doing more to stop drug use on campus. School is not a place for drug use. If some miserable kids are going to light up a joint outside of school, then at least my child wouldn't be around to witness it and the school is only there to make sure illegal activities aren't taking place on campus.

Jeff wrote on May 13, 2008 9:55 AM:To: Sleeping but awake

Ok, you got me, your right. Drugs on campus are a good thing. Smoking pot is a healthy pass-time that all our young people should enjoy in order to increase their learning prowess. There are only a few students that use cocaine, meth, and heroin so these drugs are not a problem at all. They are acceptable losses so we shouldn't burn any resources on them. Besides, if we crack down on these drugs then we have to be that much more on our toes because they might go after pot next. Anyhow, they are using these dangerous drugs recreationally so who cares? What was I thinking? Thanks for your "well reasoned comments", they really changed the way I feel about this. Don't forget your towel.

to sleeping but awake wrote on May 13, 2008 10:05 AM:i agree with most of what you are saying. however, for you to believe that heroin, meth, and cocaine are not a problem is just crazy. i used to sit in class and the guys behind me would snort lines of coke. additionally, meth is a HUGE epidemic lately here in the north county, and there are kids in MIDDLE SCHOOL using that stuff. heroin might be a little extreme, but meth and cocaine for sure are big problems that definitely need to be addressed somehow or another. marijuana is of course the most popular and least harmful, but still, it isn't the ONLY drug causing major problems.

Dude wrote on May 13, 2008 10:27 AM:If they can smell pot in the potty - why do they need a sniffing dog?

Pothead wrote on May 13, 2008 10:40 AM:We smoke. We vote. Change is coming.

Myth Buster wrote on May 13, 2008 10:44 AM:To the weed today... The pot you used to smoke was not as potent as what kids get today? I guess it depends on where you used to get your weed.

Dollar Bill wrote on May 13, 2008 10:48 AM:There's always money for drug hunts - but not enough to hire teachers.

How about wrote on May 13, 2008 11:40 AM:taking the dogs to our public officals offices and the office of NCTD and see what they have been smoking. Bet it is better stuff then they get at school.

Sandy wrote on May 13, 2008 11:52 AM:Hey Weed, it looks like it's already changing things. You're moving!

Sleeping but awake wrote on May 13, 2008 1:03 PM:To Jeff - as is your apparent talent you continue to miss the important points and attack me by distorting my opinions instead of trying logic and reason to provide an alternative and well reasoned rebuttal.

1)I never said that Drugs on campus are a good thing and in fact stated that the adminstration should get out of their chairs and meetings and crack down. I do believe that the police dog and police state approach is teaching the kids to be fascists and to ignore our rights under the constitution and the bill of rights. In case you have a need to refresh your memory on this pesky constitution issue try google and spend time reading the fourth amendment.

2)I never said that Smoking pot is a healthy pass-time that all our young people should enjoy in order to increase their learning prowess.What I did say, and will repeat, is that the police dogs and the police will do nothing to stop kids from experimenting and using recreational drugs, namely marijuana, and it teaches disdain for american values and our constitution. I do believe very few kids are harmed by marijuana versus the incredible damage done by alcohol.Perhaps you remember the 70's in high schools and marijuana use, guess what these people are now in power. I also believe that marijuana should be de-criminalzed and sold under government control to adults like other drugs such as alcohol to better keep this away from teens. Alcohol use in teens equals gun play, stabbings, violence and lethal traffic accidents. Marijuana use equals munchies, sometimes a drop in grades but not always and no violent acts. As a member of our society I would gladly trade the downside of marijuana use for the downside of alcohol use any day.


3)I never said There are only a few students that use cocaine, meth, and heroin so these drugs are not a problem at all. What I said is this is not a significant issue at FHS, to be precise.

4) I never said that hard drug user in HS are acceptable losses so we shouldn't burn any resources on them. Again, this is not a significant problem in FHS and anyone who states this is a fear monger and illogical.

5) This next statement of yours makes little to no sense at all but thanks anyway - Besides, if we crack down on these drugs then we have to be that much more on our toes because they might go after pot next.

5) You state - Anyhow, they are using these dangerous drugs recreationally so who cares? What was I thinking? I am saying is that the use of hard drugs is not a significant issue at FHS so stop making it out as so.I do care about hard drug use in any HS and this is a serious matter for the police. If FHS has a significant problem with hard drugs, meaning narcotics or amphetamines,then this must be addressed, but of course the school does not such a problem. The school authorities are treating the marijuana matter the same as hard drugs. This is wrong and is overkill, teaching abuse of the constitution and a poor choice both in school policy and use of expensive law enforcement resources. Lets use our brains and not our emotions and address the marijuana matter at the school with the proper amount of restraint and with increased control by teachers and administrators getting off their butts and walking about to tamp down the matter, no pun intended.

5)You state - Thanks for your "well reasoned comments". Your very welcome and please note that anyone who commented on your thoughtds concluded that you are not using your brain in this matter. But being dumb as a bag of hammers will insulate you from this fact of live....TTFN

Score keeper wrote on May 13, 2008 1:23 PM:Sleeping but Awake: 3
Jeff: 0

to sleeping but awake wrote on May 13, 2008 1:34 PM:so just for the record- you would let your middle schooler smoke at school? or only at home? would you smoke along with them? Inquiring mind here...just curious!

lucki wrote on May 13, 2008 2:09 PM:If you think drug sniffing dogs are going to stop drug use, you are crazy! No, I don't use drugs nor do I condone the use of drugs (including alcohol) but this is a waste of money and time. This is the exact same thing I said when they brought these dogs to El Camino High School in 1996 when I was a senior there. Only then we were also suspended if the dogs found Tylenol in our backpacks. Wonder if that is considered contraban at Fallbrook High too?
Sorry guys, as a former student with nothing to hide, Sleeping But Awake is pretty much right on.

NORML wrote on May 13, 2008 2:24 PM:I`m all for the legalization of pot but it should be for 21yr old adults. Pot has no place on a school campus. School is for learning not burning. In regards to the meth problem our school system & parents must do everything possible to stop this insidious drug before it ruins more lives. Our government doesn`t seem capable of stopping the flow of cocaine, meth or the chemicals used to make it, from crossing the border into the US. Al high schools should have a canine patrol even Torrey Pines has a Meth problem.

Fallbrook HS mom wrote on May 13, 2008 3:38 PM:To Sleeping but Awake:

I respectfully disagree. there is a significant problem with kids using meth, coke and other illicit drugs - as well as abusing the prescription drugs they get from their parent's medicine cabinets. Vicodin? no problem. It's readily available. the other epidemic is among those kids who will chug a bottle of Robitussin DM for a buzz - or take a whole handful of Coricidin - guess why the stores do not have those medicines out and readily available?

I am not a fear monger. I am a mom who has heard my own kids' stories - and have heard for too long that the administrators have turned a blind eye to the significant substance abuse that is right under their nose.

So, if you don't see that the sniffing dogs would be enough of a deterrent, then how do you propose we effectively address the issue?

Sleeping but Awake wrote on May 13, 2008 4:35 PM:Response to Fallbrook HS mom.

1) thank-you for responding to my comments with great and relevant thoughts structured in a logiacl manner based upon your knowledge of our FHS. This type of response has largely been missing from folks attacking my postings today.

2) I am quite familiar with FHS. In fact one of our kids graduated from FHS and is now attending UC Berkeley. The other is nearly through with his FHS education and is currently a student soon to head off to a good University. So, I am a FHS dad.

3)I am troubled by any kid who makes the choice to try coke, meth or heroin. I am certain that FHS has no such problem currently of any significant proportion regarding hard drugs. In fact, the administration knows this as well. The use of these hard drugs by students on campus is quite small and not significant. Like the real world, hard drug use happens and will happen among a small and troubled group in our FHS regardless of the police and the police dogs coming to our school.The pressing problem today at FHS,and the administration knows this, is open use of marijuana in the parking lots and in isolated parts of the campus and rest rooms.

4) I believe that any parent who leaves prescription narcotics out in the open in their home is truly a complete idiot. Any parent can go to Walmart, Target or Home Depot and get a samll locking case to store these controlled substances between taking the pills for less than $20. We do this in our home since we recognize that kids are kids and do stupid things when given an easy opportunity, even good kids. Same goes for guns, lock them up and away from kids, period. This is just common sense. So, perhaps the school should invest in educating the dense parents who seem not to have even modest amounts of common sense and help get prescription drugs out of the hands of FHS students. If a kid steals the drugs at home and is caught either by his behavior or through an informant then the parents and the school discipline officers needs to get this under control. If your kids, not accusing you, take these drugs then it is time to step up and take responsibility and get your kid straightened up. I do not want my kid searched and exposed to the trampling of the constitution and the fouth amendment becasue another parent is a bonified knucklehead. Parents, keep track of the robitusin in your homes and your Coricidin or lock them away, I know we do. If you raised your kid right and he still makes bad choices, so be it, time for a correction and this is to be done by the parent. If a kid is dealing drugs and is caught by an informer or a security guard or an attentive teacher, the kid pays the price and the parent pays the legal and rehab bills and gets involved. If the parents do not have money, fine, taxes are meant to provide for the public good at times like this. We do not push bad policy and introduce police and police dogs into FHS because teachers and the administration are not doing the walk about and doing their jobs on marijuana use. I know this is not a perfect solution but I personally prefer teaching good choices and the theory and reality/action of consequence for bad choices rather than trashing the collective freedom of all the students and corrupting their understanding of how our fredoms and our great constitution works.

5)You stated your opinion on hard drug use and prescription drug use at FHS that I will respect and differ with since I personally believe it overstates the real situation regarding abuse of hard drugs and prescription drug abuse in FHS today. You opinion - Namely that administrators have turned a blind eye to the significant substance abuse that is right under their nose and your statement that if you don't see that the sniffing dogs would be enough of a deterrent, then how do you propose we effectively address the issue? These are really good comments and observations. The answer is very simple - Parents. If the administration is not doing their job, as I have stated numerous times in my postings then parents need to get invloved and make them do so or replace them, period. Sending in Police and Police dogs is a travesty for our FHS. It is a misuse of our public funds. It is a bad policy. It is telling the kids that all are guilty until cleared by the dogs and the police. It is a trampling of our values as free citizens in a free country. Why do we think that putting in place overreaching searches for drugs is teaching the kids american values. FHS Administrators open your eyes, get off your butts and get busy cleaning this problem up to an acceptable level, you can never eliminate the problem in total. You administrators will hear from myself and other like minded parents (this has hapened before on other issues) and you will not be given a free pass to be lazy, turn a blind eye to a problem that is your responsibility or call in the police and their dogs to teach our kids that fascist politics take the place of our personal rights under the constitution. That is my opinion and my suggestion as a solution for you, as asked by you, FHS Mom.

Bad Habit wrote on May 13, 2008 4:55 PM:Finally a discussion I can get into. To sleeping but awake. How about if we take the cops out of the picture and allow teachers to have drug sniffing dogs on campus, would that be ok? Then when the dog finds the drugs the teachers can call the police. No more bad government patrolling the school - hmm

Ed wrote on May 13, 2008 5:40 PM:Obviously, there are people who pretended to be well-educated and well-written, yet, have no reality based in their opinions. Recreational drugs are defined as... Oh wait, there is no definition, just an agenda to allow unhindered drug use by those who hide behind freedom as their banner to promote anarchy. Alcohol and tobacco already plaque society with the problems that they cause. Why would any society introduce a substance that would follow suit? You can write as eloquently as you'd like. Bottom line, there is no place for marijuana or any other illegal drug on school campus or any where else. Detection, enforcement and interdiction are the few things we can do to try to keep it out of the hands of our children. It's up to parents to educate their own children to get them to think as smart as they write.

Jeff wrote on May 13, 2008 6:07 PM:To: Sleeping but awake.

You are obviously an intelligent person, but I must question your wisdom. Your using a “smoke and mirrors” approach to convince people that marijuana use in our schools is not a big deal. You said yourself that you support legalization of marijuana, a view not shared by the majority of citizens. As eloquent and convincing as your writings are, they are merely a mask for your true agenda. You can cover a piece of poop with honey but it is still a piece of poop. I recognize a pile of turds when I see it.

I fail to see how using a drug dog is an abuse of the 4th amendment. The 4th amendment does not apply to schools, including the administration, or any of their agents. How can the 4th amendment be made a mockery of when it does not pertain to the school? Besides, I could care less if some high school pothead get upset with this. Maybe he needs to learn a little respect for the law, rather than how to avoid taking responsibility for his/her criminal activities. I'm willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of kids support this effort to curb drug use at their school. The wellbeing of the majority out weighs the wellbeing of the law breaking minority.

Now put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Sleeping but Awake wrote on May 13, 2008 7:24 PM:To: bad habit

I do not believe that teachers should be issued drug detection kits, breathalysers or drug sniffing dogs.

Teachers are there to teach and near as I can tell are allowed to use their ears, nose and eyes in this effort. If they overhear talk of drug deals or possession from students or are informed of drug issues by a student, smell illegal drugs being used like marijuana or hard drugs being cooked, or see someone using drugs or handling drugs they need to do their job and bust the kid. Sending offenders to the discipline office and making sure the drugs are confiscated. None is this is over reaching or an affront to our constitution or the fourth amendment. Nor does this procedure presume every kid is guilty until proved innocent by the drug search dog and his police man keeper. That should do it and see, no need to convert teachers to additional DEA agents equipped with a dog.

Bad habit wrote on May 13, 2008 8:17 PM:To SBA - Ok I think I understand. No dogs equals no detection and as long as the teachers see it or smell it then it is ok to make a bust. Would it be ok for the teachers to attend a drug awarness seminar put on by the police to make them more sensitive to detecting drug sales and use on campus?

Sleeping but Awake wrote on May 13, 2008 9:09 PM:To Ed and jeff, you may have missed a couple of my more subtle points,or as stated by Jeff my latest " piece of poop with honey ". So let me help.

1) Recreational drugs are defined as drugs used by people who are recreating. For example, having a beer at a ball park or conscenting adults using marijuana as happens every day. Or, unfortunately, kids getting high with their friends and hanging out, or a couple using Viagra to enhance their love life. This is not my definition and this term called "recreational drug use" is in common use in our language and in our text books and news articles and scientific studies.

2) I do support legalization and control of marijuana, the same way we control tobacco and alcohol today. One could make a scientifically sound case, some would say a solid and irrefutable case, that alcohol is far more damaging to society than marijuana, as is tobacco. So, if this is so, why is alcohol and tobacco legal in a controlled way and marijuana not? Well that is another issue altogether and it is called big business interests, racist policies against mexican immigrants in the 1930's and the false but self perpetuating war on drugs, but this is for another time perhaps. I say we take the money we spend chasing marijuana around the country (billons per year) and put it into education on responsible use of alcohol, tobacco (if this is even possible) and marijuana.

3) Bottom line, there is no place for marijuana or any other illegal drug on school campus. This I competely agree with but I am unwilling to cross the threshold of having every kid declared guilty until proven innocent by the police and snoopy the dope dog. I want to teach our kids that self reliance on good decision making and reliance on american values as defined and captured in the constitution applies to all citizens, even our crafty teenagers. Fascism and trampling of the constitution is not alright to teach kids. We spend time and money educating them, pretty poorly at that, about the constitution and the bill of rights so lets not show them it really is just some meaningless words in a book by our deeds. Kids can smell double standards and hypocritic acts a hundred miles away because they are mostly pretty bright and aware of double dealing and double talk. Never mind your american history class kids,step outside and prepare to have a warrantless search of your property without any probable cause. How can any parent not see this is not O.K..

4)Ed - you wrote Bottom line....there is no place for marijuana or any other illegal drug on school campus or any where else. Once again,I agree that drugs....marijuana and alcohol and tobacco and bad nutrition like junk food and high fructose corn syrup do not belong in our public schools. I differ on your opinion on the "anywhere else" matter. Sorry, but marijuana is an illegal substance in the federal system that has been decriminalized in several states including ours for small amounts for personal use. If you think that detection and prevention programs are going to do away with marijuana then you are dreaming.

5)Jeff - you stated.... fail to see how using a drug dog is an abuse of the 4th amendment. The 4th amendment does not apply to schools, including the administration, or any of their agents. How can the 4th amendment be made a mockery of when it does not pertain to the school?.... You are technically wrong in some of your understandings. The school can not compell a search of a students body without probale cause due to the 4th amendment, this is the law and was hinted at in the article if you read it carefully. You can not enter the students automobile when parked on school property without probable cause or a warrant or the owners or presumed controlling users permission with rare and well defined exceptions in the law concerning imminent danger to the public, 4th amendment and it is the law. The 4th is a liberty and a right that exists except when the public good and school safety trump individual rights, so you are correect that the fourth does not cover backpacks, school grounds/property and a cursory check of lockers and car exteriors in the parking lot. But, I still believe that FHS is over reaching by applying dogs and police to the entire school body. In fact the supreme court has ruled that you can not let a drug dog loose on a citizens car when detained at a random sobriety check/stop or a traffic stop as this is over reaching, you need probable cause per the 4th. Our faculty should be walking around and detecting the use of drugs on campus as is their duty without the need to apply police state tactics.

6)jeff wrote - Besides, I could care less if some high school pothead get upset with this. Maybe he needs to learn a little respect for the law... The wellbeing of the majority out weighs the wellbeing of the law breaking minority..... I could not disagree more. In fact every major social gain in our country in the last fifty years, no 150 years, no, since 1763 started by good people fighting stupid and terrible laws and the abuse of power. If we use your logic of majority rule we would still be british citizens,African Americans would be legal property, alcohol would be illegal, women would not have the vote,inter racial marriage and gay sex would be a jailable offense,and civil rights would not exist. Sorry, majority rule is not the law of the land, the constitution and the supreme courts rulings are, this is how it works guys. Nope social justice and changes in society come about hard and often through breaking the law. Social injustice can never be supported by breaking the law or acting against the spirit of our constitution. So, FHS faculty get off your butts and do your job, park snoopy the dope dog and his police man and do not trample the constitution while we try to teach its value, magic and meaning to the kids as this is illogical, self defeating, fascist, insincere and just a bad idea. Do not puniush every kid and make them prove themselves innocent while presuming they are guilty without the existence of probable cause.

Thanks to both of you for your fine comments and the opportunity to have a civilized and intelligent discussion on this issue.......

Sleeping but Awake wrote on May 13, 2008 9:20 PM:To bad habit
You wrote - Would it be ok for the teachers to attend a drug awareness seminar put on by the police to make them more sensitive to detecting drug sales and use on campus?.....of course tht is faculty education and I am strongly in favor of teachers being attentive for illegal drug use by teens and applying discipline that makes sense. Now you may not agree with this, but I would train teachers like the police are trained in some departments even going so far as letting them smoke marijuana if they choose during the class to understand the symptoms, the smell and the affects. I do not condone or encourage any drug use, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, on campus by anyone. I do not condone or support hypocrisy of teaching the constitution and the 4th amendment and then making a "guilty until proven innocent drug sweep" of the students by our police and snoopy the drug dog to show the kids that they can and do attend a school that uses police state tactics and operates outside the spirit of the constitution and the 4th amendment..

Jeff wrote on May 13, 2008 10:40 PM:Sleeping but awake, I like you. Even though we have fundamentally different opinions on life, I respect your ability to make a sound argument. Our basic philosophies are the source of our disagreement, but that is what America is all about.

Correct me if I'm wrong, and I very well may be (I'm not ;-)), but school staff is not regulated to the probable cause standard for a search that law enforcement is. A school employee, or their agent, is not required to establish probable cause to search a student, his car, or locker, while on school grounds. This type of search has been ruled an "administrative search" and is therefore an exception to search and seizure laws (4th amendment).

In this case, a deputy with "Snoopy" has been made an agent of the school, and will do searches at the request of the school administration. Having a bit of knowledge about drug sniffing dogs, I will tell you that the dog will not need a locker or car opened up before it alerts on illegal drugs.

Even if probable cause is a requirement, the following information should quench your legal thirst. A simple walk by of the locker or car is all that will be needed. If the dog alerts on the closed locker or car, this will establish more than enough probable cause to open the locker or car to continue in the drug seizing efforts.

You can disagree with this all you want, but it has been upheld time and time again in court. A trained drug sniffing dog alerting on the front door of a private residence is more than enough probable cause to obtain a search warrant for said house. Being that a school search is an administrative search, a dog alert on a locker or car is way more than enough to justify a warrantless search of said location. I can guarantee that a locker or car would not be searched if Snoopy does not alert on it. Therefore, any student not in possession of illegal drugs is not in any danger of being subjected to a search. The only people who are in danger of getting arrested are the teenaged dopers who you say should not be ignored.

Thank you for an interesting debate, but I still think you need a little more honey on your poop before it starts smelling good.

I wonder... wrote on May 14, 2008 7:11 AM:I think that Sleeping But Awake must be the editor of the NCT.

Not a good idea wrote on May 15, 2008 7:35 PM:Why is this plan being published in the papers and carried on the news? May as well just announce it on the FHS loudspeakers the day before they do it, and send notes home to parents and call everyone in the district. This way - you can make sure the students of FHS can keep their drugs away from campus that day. I know for a fact (unfortunately) that if a student at FHS gets caught with drugs, they simply get sent home for a few days and sent to a drug diversion local program called TEMPO. In my opinion, that program is worthless. I wish I had a better answer - but attempting to find drugs in lockers, but announcing it all over town is not too bright. If you even think the cops will make an arrest, you're wrong.