Oct. 8, 2006
PTSA to address new ID policy at Oct. 17 meeting
The new ID policy will be discussed at the upcoming PTSA meeting on Tuesday Oct. 17. The meeting will give parents and students the opportunity to share their opinions on the new policy with the school administration.
The outpouring of parent comments on the PTSA listserve has suggested the need for such a forum. "Parents are very concerned [about the ID policy]," said PTSA co-president Deborah Stoll. "We would like concerns to be aired and as much as possible to be addressed," she said. "This is not just IDs, this is the security of kids at school."
Parents on the listserve have expressed confusion and concern over the disciplinary aspects of the new policy, especially over the issue of Saturday detentions. Questioning the feasibility and effectiveness of the policy and its punishments, they urge for more parental input. "Will the PTSA please consider asking the admin to change this draconian new policy?" wrote Blair parent Anne LoPiano.
While the co-presidents agree that the parents' opinions should be heard, they feel the PTSA should not have any final decision over the ID policy. "I don't think that it is up to the PTSA. I think the administration should make the decisions about security. They are [at Blair] every day and parents aren't," PTSA co-president David Ottalini said. "We can be consulted, but we shouldn't make the decision."
The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the media center.
Please click here for coverage of the ID policy and its history.
The outpouring of parent comments on the PTSA listserve has suggested the need for such a forum. "Parents are very concerned [about the ID policy]," said PTSA co-president Deborah Stoll. "We would like concerns to be aired and as much as possible to be addressed," she said. "This is not just IDs, this is the security of kids at school."
Parents on the listserve have expressed confusion and concern over the disciplinary aspects of the new policy, especially over the issue of Saturday detentions. Questioning the feasibility and effectiveness of the policy and its punishments, they urge for more parental input. "Will the PTSA please consider asking the admin to change this draconian new policy?" wrote Blair parent Anne LoPiano.
While the co-presidents agree that the parents' opinions should be heard, they feel the PTSA should not have any final decision over the ID policy. "I don't think that it is up to the PTSA. I think the administration should make the decisions about security. They are [at Blair] every day and parents aren't," PTSA co-president David Ottalini said. "We can be consulted, but we shouldn't make the decision."
The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the media center.
Please click here for coverage of the ID policy and its history.
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Probably to show that the administration is "The Man" and we have no choice but to follow their idiotic policies. Unless we go above Blair administration, but they are even less persuasive
"We can be consulted, but we shouldn't make the decision."
What's his job other than to let the Parents, Teachers, and Students have an input into issues? I don't know the method for doing so, but this guy needs to go. This is something basic. He should be fighting the administration allowing them to allow the PTSA to have input, regardless of what he personally believes. At least Hysen is fighting, the administration just doesn't care and won't listen to the SGA. Whether the administration would agree or not, the PTSA co-president has just supported a policy that takes influence away from the PTSA. Some president he is.
You need to chill out. I definitely don't agree with the ID policy either, and like you I wish that the PTSA and SGA had more of a say, but the fact is that some of the people who are regularly commenting on these stories are getting way out of control. You don't need to insult Mr. Ottalini just because you don't agree with his views. Besides, what Ottalini said is reasonable (I'm a student btw) - parents aren't the ones running blair and seeing what's going on and what needs or does not need to be done. parents shouldn't make security decisions for the school, and they don't.
"He should be fighting the administration allowing them to allow the PTSA to have input, regardless of what he personally believes. "
Ottalini said he believed the PTSA has the right to advise the admin, so he *is* fighting for the chance to give input. besides, the PTSA never had the right to make security policy for the school - or the right to make policy of any kind in the first place. strongly influence policy - yes. incite policy-sure. but not actually institute policy. the admins do and have always made all the decisions. so contrary to your belief, ottalini is not taking any power away from PTSA with his statements.
Rebelling against the system is fine and all, but there's this line between being a pugnacious, irascible cobra and being a student dissenter. looks like you've crossed thatline.
so you might have to pay a few bucks here and there. under the new policy, you're even permitted to get temporary IDs without a fee. in my opinion, we students need to pick our battles. this shouldn't be one of them.
"Rebelling against the system is fine and all, but there's this line between being a pugnacious, irascible cobra and being a student dissenter. looks like you've crossed thatline."
I of course disagree, but you can have that opinion.
Go read the ID policy article and find out what the students are actually upset about, because it isn't the IDs themselves.
If students just consented and WORE the IDs like they are asked to, there would be no need for such "draconian" policies.
Dissenters need to bear in mind that they are not helping the situation by fighting against a policy that is not unreasonable.
All you are asked of as a student is to do your work, come to school and wear a piece of plastic around your neck. Government officials are required to wear IDs, but they don't complain about the chewing out they get from their boss (or the possiblity of being escorted off the premicise by security) for not wearing it.
At CUA, anyone on the grounds without an ID or Visiter ID is escorted out by security, but the students and staff do not complain about this policy.
So just bit the bullet and wear the ID. Save your energy for dissenting against more important issues.
Explain to me how ID's protect students, and I'll give in. I have yet to hear one good argument. Allow me to rephrase what you said in my words.
"If you just didn't question their authority, they wouldn't have to go to extreme measures to make sure they had absolute authority". The ID policy (last year's as well) is rediculous. Government officials are paid. They agree to the policy when they agree to the job. Also, their policy makes more sense. At Blair if someone who wasn't supposed to be here didn't have an ID, they'd be asked to put it on and/or given detention. Oh no, they have to go to detention after they go in and shoot up the place. And this isn't an important issue? It's about principle, and the power the administration has to enforce an extremely stupid policy. Important? I think so.
So your plans for mass Saturday detentions? Have fun with your friends. Go for it. You *won't* be seeing the majority of Blair there.
To Alex: In government buildings there is no "limit" to temporary ID's, nor are the workers penalized for not having one. They print up a temporary ID and off the worker goes. So please, before you speak, think. They dont get "chewed out by their boss" for not wearing an ID (and yes, i know this, someone in my family works at NIH).
I will continue to speak out, but I disagree that it is in a supercilious manner. It is my opinion and I present it as such. People are free to disagree, but they better be able to use facts to back it up. I still maintain that ID's do not increase safety. If someone else believes otherwise please explain. I want to know how they make us safer.
52.6% of statistics are made up.
Show me how you arrived your conclusions of 80% of students wearing IDs and half of these students liking their IDs. Did you take a poll that represented a cross section of the student population? What time of day did you talk to these students? How many students did you ask? Did you check to make sure students were wearing their new IDs, not an old one/someone else's?
And don't just say 'security.' That doesn't explain anything.
Maybe if we were given a rational reason, we would know the administration's intentions. Without a reason this whole issue just comes off as a way for the administrators to flaunt their power.
I feel completely and 100% safe in the school. Anyone who opposes the ID policy is being selfish, and just wants to stand up against authority. Not all of us like to live on the edge, and those who do should not jeopordize the safety of everybody else.
Is the first part of your comment sarcasm?