Pubdate: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 Source: Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC) Copyright: 2003 Evening Post Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.charleston.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/567 Author: Robert D. Bostic Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Goose+Creek PROTECTING STUDENTS As a resident of Goose Creek and having a son who attends Goose Creek High School, I am very concerned about the safety of our schools. I believe they should be a safe haven, providing an environment that fosters learning. Anything the school administrators and police need to do to protect this environment should be done. I support the police in their actions. While it seems out of place to draw weapons on students in the school, would the outcry of indignation be different if this same scenario of suspected drug activity took place outside a business and the owner requested the police assistance in removing the activity? Would we expect police officers to confront a group of 17- to 19-year-olds, who were in an area of suspected drug activity, without safeguarding their lives, by having means of defense at the ready? And would they not be able to safeguard suspects until the problems can be sorted out? My impression of the parents' concern is that they feel that the police threatened their children unnecessarily and that the search or sweep for drugs was unlawful. Be that as it may, I'm sure that police would not have set themselves up for this kind of reaction without some cause. Maybe the parents should look more toward teaching a respect for authority and not toward placing blame or avoiding responsibility. Question: if their children were sold drugs at school, where would their support lie? And who would they blame? ROBERT D. BOSTIC Goose Creek - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake