What purpose does this really serve other than to make children not trust people in positions of authority to respect them or their privacy?

So, calling it a "training exercise" means the police don't have to have a search warrant? Interesting.

Cheryl, Police do not need search warrants in schools. They are administrative searches that don't involve the 4th amendment.

Plus, the 4th amendment doesn't entitle people to privacy regarding the smells coming from their car or locker. A police dog is allowed to smell whatever he wants. If that dog "alerts" to a specific car, it gives the officer probable cause that contraband is in the vehicle. Because a car is moveable...it initiates the "exigent circumstance" clause of the 4th amendment which basically denies the need for a warrant. It's unreasonable to think that the car is going to stay still and untouched in the time it takes for an officer to ask for a warrant and receive one, therefore they don't need one.

I hate the "nothing to hide" argument. It assumes everyone is guilty until proven innocent.

I was the nerdiest goodie two shoes in High School and drugs were never something I really considered taking, but I would have felt violated just the same if my locker and car were checked for drugs.

Anyways, so what if they did find drugs? Part of the problem is the assumption that anyone with drugs is a dealer, so then the kid risks jail time for what could be a small amount for personal use. Although I think drugs are bad for people in general, I do understand that drugs are often a masking agent for mental health, physical health, or family problems. More school councillors that are trained in dealing with these kinds of situations would be a lot more effective in lowering the amount of drug use than sending a kid to jail.

By making drugs the forbidden fruit we are just making them even more irresistable temptation for teenagers.

These unannounced dog sniffing searches are nothing new. They are done at least 1 time a year, at Farmington HS. I've never heard any students complain, or get angry. That's just how it is, and should be. How else would the kids doing drugs ever get caught...how would anybody be able to help or discipline them it they weren't discovered.

Jimmy M., thank you for explaining that.

Miriam, I'm completely with you on hating the "nothing to hide" rationale.

hi i am a student at north farmington high school the person that was caught with the marijuana was one of my very good friends he had a scholarship to michigan state university and had a high gpa and a good act score this ruined his life even though it wasnt anyone else's fault that he had the stuff on him but it still doesn't make it right the way the administriative staff handled the situation. they arrested him when every one of his peers was in the hallway and the administrative staff did not say anything to the students after this happened. so anyone who was commenting on this needs to realize that this kid was a good kid and did not deserve this and now his life is done, what if that was you, what if that was one of your kids.....

If he was my kid I'd kick his azz !! The same way my parents would have if I was ever caught.

terry, if you were capable to read i clearly stated that it was no one elses fault but his...anyways you dont know him, you dont know the school of north farmington, you dont know anything about this other than what the article above says, if you attended high school in this day and age you would have an idea on what kinds of things go on in and out of school when your 17 ,18 ,19 years old.

#freeshreezy

Ryan, Thank you for joining the conversation. It is valuable to have the voices of people directly affected by these kind of policies join in. If you could convince the young man that was arrested for the Marijuanna share his side of the story it would help us adults better understand the current and long term affects of this kind of policy. I understand if his lawyer won't allow this though.

I don't believe that drug use should be enough to end a career. Drug usage is the most common among people with very high incomes. Why should we prevent a child with some minor drug use from going to college by ending his scholarship due to a criminal record?

If I found out my kids were using drugs I would try to find out why they wanted to take them. I would attempt to fix the reason they take the drugs (so that they don't feel they have to reach out to drugs to deal with their problem) while finding them a detox program for them.

Drug dealing would be a different matter all together, since you are the contributor in the destruction of people's lives.

This seems wrong. Poor kids, all were treated as criminals in a jail.

Ryan, I am also a student of North Farmington and you are representing our school in a very poor way. Yes it was uncivilized and on the verge of cruel, when it comes to what the Police did yesterday morning... BUT you do not have the right to talk to someone in that way, for disagreeing with your point of view. The police had every right to search Joe's car, and the "don't do the crime if you can't do the time," law is applicable to this situation, although not one of our peers deserved what happened to them yesterday. It was in fact a violation of privacy and trust, and the students have every right to be upset. We were lied to, and then treated as prisoners with no support from the faculty. In fact, our administrators set up the entire situation and then later lied to our parents about it. I believe it makes our friends, and our parents think differently of our institution of learning, but we must be rational and respectable while representing what is left of our school.

Faculty- acted as if they had absolutely no idea what was going on, I in particular was told there was a "health emergency" going on. That lie lasted all of 30 seconds, before I heard the k-9's barking outside of my classroom. The police, ordered the school hall monitors to pull out teenagers who owned the cars/lockers that the police dogs initially "hit," then as a team, escorted them one by one to perform a thorough search within their vehicle. The ones who were searched felt violated, disrespected, and an abundance of shock. It's disheartening seeing a few of the "goody two shoes" girls who probably haven't ever touched drugs, crying after they were randomly chosen to have their car searched. That initially showed just how "professional" and "well planned" this search was. The police also were not discreet about what they were doing, there were well over 8 police cars on school grounds, which needless to say, they made quite the scene. The students were outraged. We were truly disgusted that our peers were being interrogated and made a mockery out of by people we have been told to trust with our safety and well being. The lies told to our parents were that "it was just a drill." Our secretary made an announcement over the PA stating that we are having a lock down drill, and to lock our doors. Me, being the drama queen that I am (I hope that doesn't take my credibility away..) texted my mom asking if she knew what was going on, and she told me the same thing- just a drill.

We are then released from our classrooms, and I head to the lunch room where there is a direct view to the student parking lot, where to my surprise, I see an abundance of police cars and my friend being arrested while the police and administration are standing in a circle around the victim who's life is now over. His fault entirely, but this should not have been a show to the students of North Farmington. We are educated and bred to be different, we are bred to be respectful and graceful, while setting an example to every person we come in contact with. The morning January 11th changed that entire reputation for North Farmington. This article makes it seem as if it were a harmless "drill," but believe me- It was a sad day for North Farmington. It evoked emotion within every student, whether it being disgust, anger, or simply sympathy. Once the show was over, and the obnoxious number of police cars left, we were expected to go on with our day as if nothing happened. There were no announcements, no more "List Serv messages," and most importantly- no source of comfort from the administrators or faculty.

^anonymous, I am also a student at NFHS (alias name) and I can say what you just said right there is 100% accurate and I agree with it completely. Well written and extremely to the point!

Thank you anonymous and other NFHS students for sharing this. You shouldn't have been violated in this way. It is a bad way to find out that people in power aren't perfect.

Now what are we, the adults of Farmington, going to do to fix this? Should we contact the Principal of the school, the school board, and/or the police department? If you are a student that is 18+ years old you should also push hard against these kind of situations. If you are under 18, get your parents and older relatives to complain.

Does anyone know when and where the next school board meeting is?

A post was deleted from this thread because of a violation of our terms of use.

The next board of education meeting is January 24, 7:30 p.m. The board allows time for public comment near the end of the meeting. And if any student is willing to go on the record and speak publicly about this, I can be reached at 248-534-2425.

Someone REALLY needs to tell the school board about this entire incident (maybe Sue Zurvalec?) They need to know what happened and how our administrators' actions were so destructive to the students and parents of North.

Anyone who is a Parent, Teacher, or Student of North Farmington, should come to our PTSA meetings, they're held once a month. I will definitely be bringing this up at our next meeting!

Joni, what is your email?

whoever this "anaymous" kid is, there was no reason to put his name in this blog, if this happened to you, you wouldnt want people throwing your name around....if you did know him and were close to him then you would have enough respect for him not to do that

Wow!!! You are all sad, misinformed people. Please join us in the real world.You are totally missing the true problem/point here. Drugs are illegal, bad and have negative devastating effect on peoples lives and families. His life is not over! He'll pay a fine and do some probation and it will be gone from his record like it never even happened. Let the use go unchecked/undeterred and who knows where he would end up. Unmotivated loser, addict, DEAD! Nobody starts out using heroin or cocaine. They start out smoking weed. If it was my kid #1 question would be why do you have the dope. Lets fix that problem.
Stop blaming the people whos job it is to educate and protect. Look at the source of the problem. More then likely it starts at home. Its a parents job to be a parent not a friend.

Why are the students from North upset? I don't know what has been going on there over the years, but at Farmington HS the police dogs sniff cars and lockers at least 1 time per year--totally unannounced. It's the way it's been for at least 8 years. I'm surprised that the students are angry. It's nothing new. If they are guilty, they need to suffer the consequences. Doesn't matter how good of student they are--that's the reality of breaking the law. No excuses

As a Farmington High graduate, I saw these lockdowns 4 years in a row. Positive result? Less drugs in the school. Granted there is always going to be drugs, students knew not to conduct that business at school. Have other children been busted? You bet. Now i've never seen police and faculty "put on a show" in the parking lot, they always questioned the student in privacy after the lockdown had lifted. What happened to those kids? Prolly got a misdemeanor ticked for possession, maybe a suspension... but its a drug free school zone and has been for years... no surprise. How much do the lockdowns cost police? It's valuable training for these K9s. Whether they find stuff or not, it gets these new police dogs out in public performing what they've been trained to do. I think its a great idea.

Now from what I've read here, what happened at North seemed to be a little sketchy from what "Anonymous" said... so in no way am I supporting how things went down at North. Its just kids today know drugs aren't allowed at school, and if they break that rule, there are consequences.

Miriam oxys been around since the mid 90's, heroins been our friend since the late 1800's. Stop believing the liberal crap your reading. Almost all of'em start with weed and booze. Believe me I've lived it-seen it, not read about it.....You must not have kids either,. I'm guessing your tune might change if you had a couple of little life investments that you had to worry about.

As far as getting him help. Hello parents, do your job, wake up!!!

The cost to police? They said it was a training day for the dogs and handlers. If they werent training at North they would have been training somewhere else for their "Training Day".....$0.00

"Over the past 17 years, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA Columbia) has surveyed thousands of American teens and their parents to identify factors associated with an increase or decrease in the likelihood of teen substance use. We have learned that a child who gets through age 21 without smoking, using illegal drugs or abusing alcohol is virtually certain never to do so. And, we’ve learned that parents have the greatest influence on whether their teens will choose to use."
http://www.casacolumbia.org/templates/ChairmanStatements.aspx?articleid=654&zoneid=31

So North Farmington High School students, how do you feel being a training exercise for dogs of the police department? It is one thing if there is a known drug problem and the police department is called in to route out the dealers. That is the police investigating to stop the problem. My problem with the concept is that students are just convenient test subjects for police to practice on is it devalues the students and lets them further know they have few rights just because they are under 18 years old.

It is in fact a violation of privacy, and we have been preyed upon due to the fact that the majority of us are minors. I understand they have the right to search our cars and Yes, we are a "drug-free zone," but put yourself in this situation. Lets say, a parking lot full of cars are parked within the boundaries of a public sports arena or a hospital. These are in fact a "drug-free zone," as well. WHAT if, these K-9 units, along with the cities police forces "planned" a "drill" upon the hospital or sports arenas where the majority of the population is above the age of 17. If the cars of adults were searched and "hit" upon, these adults, (probably all of you who are reading this as well,) would be OUTRAGED. You would feel just as violated as the students who were raided here. I believe this "drill," manipulated the minds of NFHS students who most likely did not know their rights, and the police and administration provided a total misuse of power.

Human rights have no age requirement. http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/ See Articles 7 and 12.

Adults can deny a search of their car by police unless the police have a warrant. Do children have that same protection?

Check out the school newspaper's article that may clear up some of the information being discussed. http://www.thenorthernstaronline.com/?p=4702

Terry, I think I speak for everyone on here when I say please leave your strange prosaic jokes out of this.

When drills lead to arrests are they no longer drills? When I think of a drill, I think of training on what to do in an Earthquake, Fire, or Tornado. Drills are supposed to be safety training for the students and make sure that the students are properly guided by the adults around them. I just can't see how a drug raid would count.

I still the remember the horror of an actual bomb found on my High School campus (in 1995). Thankfully it was a dud, but still the situation was frightening. We were sent home early while the cops made sure it wouldn't go off.

okay seriously i am north farmington student and i have to say although what hapened was wrong and right at the same time and was fair and unfair, all we can do now is hope for the best for the students who were accused and move on. what's done is done . stop talking about the past please

truth speaker, I think you hit it on the nose that this is wrong and right, fair and unfair. Legally, the police and administration felt they were on solid ground. There are school policies that cover this sort of thing. From what I'm reading, the students are most concerned about the way they saw the drill handled - before and after. I find this conversation very interesting. It's a tough question ... how do you keep students safe in school, while still protecting their basic, human rights?

Cheryl is correct that the school board does not usually respond to public comments. It will happen occasionally, but for most issues, they just listen and if action is necessary, they'll direct the superintendent or other appropriate staff to meet with people. I would still encourage students who are concerned about this to take that step. Your comments will be on the record in minutes and will be broadcast on TV-10. You could also engage your school's PTSA by getting on their agenda. If you do nothing, nothing changes.

Let me start with Miriam, you are a fan of the "nanny state" yet have problems with this. Do you remember just a few short years ago when they wanted to set up check points and stop cars (whether guilty or not) and do breathalizers? Did you feel that was a violation of your right to privacy or did you applaud, under the guise of the "nanny state" that you are now guilty until proven innocent? Give up your rights to the government and you won't have any.

A wise man once said, "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." You, Miriam, when you give your liberty away for a "nanny" state that protects you from yourself, have no right to privacy or anything else. Sorry, but your take on this and your take on a nanny state has you talking out both sides of your mouth.

That being said, I always default on the side of liberty, given to us from a higher authority, not the government. So, I find this "training" exercise a complete frontal assault to liberty. This was no simple "sweep" of North. This was another attempt on the part of the district to prove their unfettered power. They believe they are G-d and that any rights the students have flow from them. Again, they don't care who they hurt, damage they cause, long term harm they inflict.

Yes, they have been conducting sweeps for years, but never in this manner. What prompted including all of these other cities? Why North? Why our our kids

"training" exercise material for police departments around the area. There were no less than 5 different departments involved. Why our school and why our district? I believe that FPS has a lot to answer to the parents, students, and the community as a whole.

All this talk about drugs, their effect, is sidestepping the real question and issue here? What is FPS administration up to, and why? Let's ask the questions and let's get the answers.

Warning to all parents: Instruct your children to NEVER talk to administration ALONE if they are called in for any reason. Make sure you have standing orders that if something happens with your child, that they are not allowed to talk to counselors, prinicpals, guidance counselors, etc., unless you are PRESENT.

These are people who WILL use any information they garner from your child against them. As so many students noted...they pretend to be your ally, but the truth is, when something goes wrong, they are only on one side, the district's...and they effectively become your enemy. There are a slew of parents and former students who will verify what I am telling you.

Terry, while I do not agree with you on many of your comments, I do believe I remember you, and you are correct....overall, the vast majority of the Board will do nothing, they will pretend to be interested, and then do what they wish - and all the administrative staff will follow with their very brown noses. You are also correct that the only

way to change things is to elect new board members who have a completely different philosophy...instead of electing the likes of Bolsen and Wallach, once again. There were other candidates this past election...ones that would have seen to it that it was no longer the status quo. Oh well...it's really too bad that most people in Farmington, FH do not vote in these elections. The truth is...as we can see now...your vote does matter.

Everyone who is concerned should prepare statements for the January 24th board meeting at the Lewis Schulman Building. Plan to be there a long time, Public Comments are at the end of the meeting, another attempt to keep the community at a distance and uninvolved. Most people are not willing to wait till 10 or 11 pm to comment. None of this is done by accident. All of the Board's actions are well planned, thought out, and meant to keep community involvement in the education of our children at a minimum.

Pay attention people...we have no more precious commodity than our children.

I think this Terry dude needs to realize he doesn't know anything about this North Farmington generation. You need to realize we're just kids and bringing in punk dogs into the school as a "drill" is totally out of line. And another thing, my brother's car got searched cause those little marijuana brain washed dogs hopped all over his car not to add scratching some parts of it. The funny thing is my brother doesn't smoke and didn't have weed in his car. Shows you that this dumb drill was just to catch anyone they could just to ruin a person's life.

Personally, I would send the bill for scratches or damage to any cars incurred due to this "training exercise" to FPS. They should pay. They are responsible for the damage incurred.

Cheryl,

Actually, I do remember a while ago, when exactly what you suggested, that dogs could sniff out illegal drugs in a neighborhood, and that way give police probable cause to enter the home/car, was actually bantered about in a community. If I remember correctly, there was such outrage at this concept, invasion of privacy, police powers run amok, that it was quickly dropped. I, too, would like to know if employee cars were targeted. Of course, I highly doubt it, because then the district would have to deal with that embarassment when there was a "hit" on an employee vehicle. Just?wonder, would they call the employee out of class in front of everyone, and if something was "found" then handcuff and arrest them in plain sight of the student body. Knowing the duplicity and hypocrisy of our "illustrious" FPS, my answer to that would be ---no way.

Actually, Terry, and I think you already know this, there are specific roles for the government as outlined in both the Declaration of Independence AND the Constitution.

Not sure why you took your last statement to the nth degree...of course there is a role for government and their use of our tax dollars. The question, all this begs, is: has government overstepped their boundaries? I think most of us who are not left wing loonies, would answer squarely in the affirmative. So, that begs the question of when is enough, enough. Personally, I am sick of the government telling us what our children can eat or not eat in school, yes, forcing us to wear seat belts, forcing motorcycle helmets, all of which are personal choices that effect me...not you. And yes, I have heard all the arguments about the costs associated with not doing these things. But it is a PERSONAL choice. My not wearing my seatbelt in no way threatens you or causes me to have an accident with you. Driving an unlimited speed does threaten you. So, of course there is a role for government. But, it has been sorely overstepped. As for leaving, it appears when governments assume unfettered power, as ours seems to be approaching, that power includes limiting the ability of their populous to travel freely.

Miriam, I used the Ben Franklin quote in an earlier post.

Terry,
What was your point? That if I agree to the very existence of government at all, I should have no problem with unreasonable searches and seizures?

"It is to secure our rights that we resort to government at all." -- Thomas Jefferson to Francois D'Ivernois, 1795

The purpose of government is to protect the rights of all citizens equally, from infringement by other citizens. And, ideally, from itself. But that tends not to happen. That is why it is said that "the price of liberty is eternal vigilance."

Terry,

Being legal does not imply being effective, desirable, and/or morally right. A moment's reflection should bring to mind a number of things that used to be legal in the US that are none of the latter. But if you need help, just ask.

The FPS website says there are 1349 students at NFHS. Apparently, 1348 of them already didn't bring drugs to school, even without having experienced this kind of intimidation. Yet this search treated all of them as though they are inherently untrustworthy. I've typed and deleted several attempts to explain why that matters so much, but I don't think I have the ability to communicate it to you at this time. I'll just say I think your reasoning "people tend to do things the elicit favorable responses and avoid those that have negative results" is vastly oversimplified. People are complex, and in reality are often motivated to do things that have negative results in response to feeling that they have been treated unfairly.

I plan on attending the School Board Meeting tonight with my husband. I really hope the rest of you join us.

Due to a Supreme Court ruling in the last week, searches of cars without a warrant or the owner's consent is not legal.