Coming soon to a high school near you: the Transportation Security Administration.
Two girls at a New Mexico high school recently sued their school district, claiming that they were "groped" on their way into their prom earlier in the month.
One of the plaintiffs, Candice Herrera, blasted the school’s rent-a-cop, stating, "She grabbed my breast and shook the inner part of my bra and shook it and then picked up the front of my dress to mid thigh and she was patting down my bare legs." If that was the case, I am glad she did sue…
Displaying the same illogical mentality that characterizes the way so many Americans think about airport security, the school and district expressed surprise that their was a problem with their screening tactics and trotted out the old "safety first" dribble.
Capital’s Principal told us she was standing right there when students were searched and doesn’t remember any students complaining about the pat downs.
Meanwhile, Santa Fe Public Schools says it’s happy to comply with the Federal Court’s decision, saying, student safety is a priority.
Their case is still working its way through the court system, but a New Mexico judge issued two orders last week: first, another high school in the district that held its prom on Saturday was required to have a TSA agent present to insure that pat downs were conducted correctly.
Does anyone else find it a bit ironic that the TSA was summoned to insure that students were not violated? I would have ordered that no TSA employees be permitted within a 50 mile radius of the dance if I was worried about groping and undue harassment. But I digress…
Second, and more importantly, the judge held a pat-down is only to be used if there are reasonable grounds and that pat-downs should not be used as a first approach for every student.
It is a pity the majority in Congress do not take a similar approach to airport security. And opting out of invasive full body scanners should not count as a reasonable grounds for a pat-down…
Turns out the TSA did not even show up to the prom (surprise, surprise). In fairness, they were only given about 30 hours notice, but you would think the TSA would bend over backwards to exploit opportunities to burnish its oft-maligned image. A New Mexico State Police Officer had to suffice.
I have a suggestion: Let’s move all the TSA agents from U.S. airports to high schools. Far better they catch the terrorists when they are young, right? And the full body scanners…
As much as I do not like the professionalism of TSA agents, this is one situation where I think their presence is warranted. It is quite easy for these rent-a-cops to be TSA rejects who often do not even meet the qualifications to be a TSA officer. While they should have better supervision, some supervision is better than none.