Politics & Government
Poll: How Much Authority Should Police Have to Question Students?
The San Bruno Park School District Board recently debated over whether police officers should have to make sure a parent was present before questioning a student about a law enforcement matter. What do you think?
Jennifer Blanco, a trustee for the San Bruno Park School District Board, thinks students throughout the city should have more rights.
At the school board's meeting earlier this month, Blanco objected to a board policy that allows police officers to come on school property and question any student without the presence of a parent.
The board was asked to revisit the policy after statewide changes were proposed. No other school board member had a problem with the policy. But Blanco wanted to add language that would require a police officer to make sure a parent was involved when talking to a student about a law enforcement matter. The policy didn't go far enough to ensure students' rights, she said.
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At issue was a part of the policy that read:
"Except in cases of child abuse or neglect, the principal or designee shall notify the student's parent/guardian when a law enforcement officer requests and interview of a student on school premises prior to any such interview or questioning."
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The board approved the policy without Blanco's addition, saying that her suggestion could potentially hinder a police matter.
What do you think?
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