THE WORD

Home of the Golden CougarsJohn F. Kennedy High School

December 2009 Volume 35 , Issue 2 John F. Kennedy High School

11254 Goth ic Ave. Granada Hills, CA 91344

“Let the word go forth...the torch has been passed.”

INSIDE

SPOTLIGHT

[EDITORIAL] [FEATURES]

[COUGAR SPORTS]

Staff Writer

by Steven HernandezEditor in Chief

by Angelica Castillo

Random SearchesProfi ling or district policy?

Many students are coming to the assumption that there is a lot of profiling based searches going on here at Kennedy HS. “I think that they look at students and whoever looks suspicious gets searched,” said senior Gabriela Hernandez. However, that is not the case. Random searches conducted daily are as they are titled, random. “You can be the editor-in-chief of the newspaper or a failing student, regardless, you’ll get searched just the same,” said school security Ms. B. The chances of a student getting searched during a random screening are equal for all students and all depend on how much time an administrator has to dedicate to that particular search. Administrators may choose to search an entire classroom, or maybe it’s just every other student, but regardless, the search is at random and every student has an equal opportunity of being searched. The way random searches work are that the school administrators come into a classroom and pass out or read aloud a letter informing students of the random search that will be conducted. Students are then taken out to the hallway and are asked to remove their shoes, remove all items from their pockets, and then administrators inspect their bags to make sure there are no illegal items contained in them. They also may pat them down and use a medal detector wand to search them for other dangerous possessions.

Magnet Program Losing its Attraction?

The reality of a closing Magnet Program seems to draw nearer in many ways. Student CST scores at Kennedy are not only hurting the school in general, but the Magnet Program, which has well over 300 students. Kennedy’s Magnet Program includes three different strands, including Architecture, Digital Arts, and Film. The students in these programs have separate curriculum from the home school, and they have opportunities to have professional training and guidance in these subjects. In August 2008, Superintendent Ramon Cortines sent a letter to all Magnet Schools in LAUSD. According to his report, many Magnet Schools are not meeting pre-set standards, and thus may have their Magnet Programs dissolved. The question is: Does Kennedy fall under this category? Magnet Coordinator Mr. Garcia says that, “In order to be a center of merit school, 75% of students must achieve profi cient or advanced in English and Math on the CST’s. Right now, we’re at 39% for Math, and 65% for English. Last year, we improved 3 points in Math and 4 points in English. Now that’s an improvement…but it’s not enough,” Mr. Garcia explained. Furthermore, Mr. Garcia went on to explain the process of closing a Magnet school. He said there would probably a “transitional year” where students would know that by the end of that year, the Magnet would be no more. Mr. Lemos, Magnet and Film Teacher, said, “I would miss the cohort of dedicated students. The 3 year structure of my class would be lost.” Lemos believes that the Magnet Program at Kennedy is fi nally starting to gain recognition and it would be a shame to lose it. “I would be very saddened,” says Ms. Hollander, Digital Arts teacher. When asked about the student test scores, she said, “All of our students at Kennedy must, with diligence, do their best and widen their horizons.” One of her senior Digital Art students, Lynessa Flowers, added, “I would be devastated even though it would not be affecting me before I graduate. This program lets you be creative in a fi eld you’re interested in.” Mr. Garcia felt that it would be extremely saddening to lose the Magnet Program. “I’m just a piece of the machine. My concern is the teachers who have dedicated themselves to their classes. It’s their lives.” With a last question about the realistic possibility of the Magnet Program being dissolved at Kennedy, Mr. Garcia concluded, “I don’t see it happening.” The test scores are a major factor of this threat however, and if students want to continue having a unique and integrated learning community, they must support the Magnet Program and achieve their best on the CST’s.

Will the magnet program be closing at Kennedy?

Student being "randomly" searched.

These illegal products include: tobacco products, weapons of any kind, and alcohol. Students who wonder the halls freely and regularly may be subject to search, but with their consent. According to the LAUSD Policy Bulletin on Random Metal Detector

Searches, the following procedures must take place when conducting random metal detector searches: school police do not conduct the searches, but are only allowed to handle arrests or other criminal situations. Searches may also only be conducted by employees of the same sex. Whenever students are needed to be removed for a more thorough search, he or she shall be accompanied by two adult employees of the same gender as the student. It is prohibited for a student to undergo an inspection that requires students to remove their clothing to expose their undergarments. Although it’s called a random search, a specific pattern is established prior to searches conducted, but must be unbiased. No student or persons shall be selected to be searched based solely upon their gender, race, ethnicity, physical appearance, manner of dress, or association with any particular group of persons. The purpose of these searches is to prevent students from bringing weapons such as guns, knives, or any other items that might cause harm or injury to students. Therefore, searches should not be conducted solely for the purpose of searching students who might be suspected of having violated other school rules. So if a student doesn’t complete his homework that does not make him eligible for a school search. Students in possession of a gun or other dangerous weapons will be arrested. If students are found in possession of illegal substances like marijuana or other drugs, it will be confi scated and students will face

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serious consequences. Those students who refuse to submit to a search will be subject to disciplinary action for defying the authority of school personnel and may even be escorted off campus. “Students in possession of illegal products may receive a citation, they can be arrested and the dean deals with them by suspension, parent conference, expulsion or depending on the extent of the crime, they may even be arrested. Again, it all depends on what they do,” said Offi cer Flores. Are school searches a violation of a students fourth amendment right “to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized” ? No. The Supreme Court, in a New Jersey case decided in the 1990s, ruled that school offi cials don’t need a warrant or probable cause, but mere reasonable suspicion in order to search students and lockers. Random school searches are not designed to catch offenders, but rather serve to prevent students from bringing or keeping dangerous weapons, drugs, alcohol, and other prohibited items on school grounds. The school system does not work to go against one individual; rather it works to provide safety to the majority of the school.