News prompt 1
The Leaguetown School district is issuing school IDs that track the location, in an attempt to prevent truancy, on April 2. This topic has caused a lot of commotion between students, staff and even parents.
" I spend a good portion of each day looking for and chasing down truant stories. With the ID tracking system, we can be much more efficient in locating students. Students will be less likely to skip if they know we can easily find them. The temptation will be gone." says Shay Strobinski
San Antonio has also issued these school IDs and it has caused a 30 percent decrease in truancy. If a student loses their ID, they can get it replaced but it will cost them $15. There will also be consequences for students not wearing their IDs at all times, such as suspending the student.
" This is a blatant violation of my son's privacy rights. He doesn't want someone monitoring him at all times. No child in the United States should be tagged or tracked." Says Don Cantrell
While a different parent agrees with this new system, an owner of a company named "Redman".
" I was happy to donate money to these new IDs," says Oscar Redman," My children attend Leaguetown schools, and this is a great idea."
Students have also been quite heated with the IDs and others actually agree with the new system. Each student has their own opinion on this topic, but the administrators have the upper hand in this argument.
" Why can't they just make the students who skip wear IDs. Plus, if I wanted to skip, I would simply take off the ID. I'm sure every student can figure that one out." Says Becca Romero.
" I don't understand all the complaints. Students are at school to learn. If they are not in class, they can't learn." Says student council president, Nina Truman
" Until a judge says we can't have the IDs, we are moving forward. These new IDs will increase our attendance, which will increase our funding. It will also increase our safety on campus." Says Patti Mann.
" I spend a good portion of each day looking for and chasing down truant stories. With the ID tracking system, we can be much more efficient in locating students. Students will be less likely to skip if they know we can easily find them. The temptation will be gone." says Shay Strobinski
San Antonio has also issued these school IDs and it has caused a 30 percent decrease in truancy. If a student loses their ID, they can get it replaced but it will cost them $15. There will also be consequences for students not wearing their IDs at all times, such as suspending the student.
" This is a blatant violation of my son's privacy rights. He doesn't want someone monitoring him at all times. No child in the United States should be tagged or tracked." Says Don Cantrell
While a different parent agrees with this new system, an owner of a company named "Redman".
" I was happy to donate money to these new IDs," says Oscar Redman," My children attend Leaguetown schools, and this is a great idea."
Students have also been quite heated with the IDs and others actually agree with the new system. Each student has their own opinion on this topic, but the administrators have the upper hand in this argument.
" Why can't they just make the students who skip wear IDs. Plus, if I wanted to skip, I would simply take off the ID. I'm sure every student can figure that one out." Says Becca Romero.
" I don't understand all the complaints. Students are at school to learn. If they are not in class, they can't learn." Says student council president, Nina Truman
" Until a judge says we can't have the IDs, we are moving forward. These new IDs will increase our attendance, which will increase our funding. It will also increase our safety on campus." Says Patti Mann.
News prompt 2
A school braniac is being accused of violating dress code due to her religious beliefs. Stacy and her mother,Lareina, belong to the Church of Body Modification which promotes the use of body modifications to "change the way you see the world.
" I don't understand why the district won't drop this.," said Stacy Carol, " Through body modification, we change how we see ourselves and the world around us."
The Leaguetown School District disagrees with Stacy's piercing because it violates school dress code. The only piercing allowed to be worn at school are earrings. Although headwear is also banned, a few Muslim students have exemptions so they can wear their hijabs because of their religious beliefs.
" I don't think you can compare the Muslim religion to the Church of Body Modification. We have a rich and long history. There are more than a billion Muslims worldwide," states Amina Shakuri, a junior who attends Leaguetown High School," I don't have a problem with Stacy's lip piercing, but comparing her lip piercing to my hijab is absurd."
Parker Gordon, the superintendent of Leaguetown High, is sticking with dress code policies because he wants to set business standards for the students. A lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union will support Stacy and her mother.
" Stacy has a solid case. It is the best interest of the school district to allow her a religious exemption from the dress code. A court case could be costly and lengthy." says Sonia Stephens, an ACLU lawyer.
Jett Ramirez, a constitutional lawyer, says that not all churches are churches in the eyes of the law. He also brings in an example of how some Australians want to introduce a Jedi church to compare to the absurd nature of the Church of Body Modification. Even through this heated debate, the minister of the Church of Body Modification has no comment on this event.