Law Day 2008 Art & Essay Contest Winning Entries
These entries won the 2009 Law Day Art & Essay Contest:
Craig Shaner Hughesville High School
Robbie Barnes Lyter Elementary School
Carson Wishard McCall Middle School
Maggie Akers Carl G Renn Elementary Artwork
Anna Lee Hafer St. John Neumann Regional Academy, Intermediate
As a current high school student, I do not feel that I am as safe as I could and should be during the normal school day. While walking the halls, I constantly hear threats made to students and even the staff. These threats are not school appropriate and should be handled immediately. While attending school, I see students who are under the influence of drugs from the weekend or night before from them drug and alcohol abuse.
I believe that the school has the power to control this situation. It is up to the school to make sure that everyone is within a safe environment. Parents trust and rely on the administration and staff to ensure that their child is in good hands.
To ensure the safety of students, I believe that the school should require students to walk through metal detectors before the day begins. This would decrease the chance of any school shootings or stabbings. Video surveillance in the halls would discourage fights and would help the faculty to see who is guilty of such acts. In addition, the school should be able to ask parents permission for random drug testing, if there is probable cause or suspicion of any drug abuse. This will decrease the use of drugs and alcohol among the student body.
In conclusion, I believe as long as a student is enrolled in a facility that is run by the local, state, and federal government, there is no such thing of violation of rights. Safety for our students is priority.
Carolyn Whipple South Williamsport Jr/Sr High School
Push it to the Limit
I would have to say that I think that any school has the right to go to any extent that they see necessary. This country's amazing forefathers worked hard to give us rights to feel safe and to be protected, so we should protect that right to any extent.
There is absolutely no price tag on human life. Every single student is so valuable that they deserve a gun and drug free school, so that their precious talents may still live in society.
Every student also has a right to feel safe at school. School is supposed to be a place were everyone can come and know that they are safe from the drugs and guns. This makes the learning environment better for all.
If all of the drugs and guns are stopped from entering schools now, the problem might be resolved in a few years. There may be completely drug and gun free schools if the fullest extents are taken right now.
So, every school has the right to go to any and every extent to protect every single student, for the fact that life is valuable, students feeling safe, and preventing the problem from happening tomorrow.
Jillian Jackson South Williamsport Jr/Sr High School
We had many rules at school during recess. There was no throwing mulch. We couldn't spin on the swings. We had to keep our coats on at all times. Nobody could throw snow. Also, we couldn't play dodgeball. Those were some of the many rules at school for recess.
I believe some of the recess rules were necessary. I also do believe many of the rules were not necessary. I think that safety and freedom should be evenly balanced instead of more safety and less freedom. Those were some of my opinions on the recess rules at Lyter Elementary School.
Lauren Ohl McCall Middle School
I am a first grader at Schick Elementary. We have alot of playground rules. These are the three rules that I think are most important.
1. No pushing or hitting. This is the most important rule because somebody could get hurt.
2. No name calling or profane language. This is the next most important rule because it could hurt peoples feelings.
3. Ask for permission to go to the rest room. I think this is the third most important rule because the teachers won't know where you are. I think these rules are necessary so that kids can have fun and stay safe.
Alex Schluter Schick Elementary School
Safety of Students
School is a residence where children learn and have fun, Without having to worry about their safeties. Some schools lack this safety, while others over protect their students and invade their personal privacy. I believe that by possessing an evacuation plan, metal detectors, and see-through backpacks, the students could be protected, without violating their space.
First, we could include an evacuation plan. By distributing these to all the instructors, students are all secure and are placed in an authorized area where they can be easily located. Also, with a designated place, there is never any apprehension about where a child is and if they are missing. Next, if the school was allowed the right to have metal detectors, it would allow faculty to distinguish when a weapon is brought to school and could assist them in keeping the building safe. Finally, if the school assigned every student a see-through backpack, it would help the staff of the school find any student who is carrying a weapon, alcohol, or any other object that is prohibited from school.
School is supposed to be an environment where students can learn, have pleasure, and grow. The lack of safety sometimes hinders this process. By providing an evacuation plan, metal detectors, and see-through backpacks, students could be kept safe, without encroaching upon their privacy.
Alexa Ream Jersey Shore Middle School
