Manalapan-Englishtown Taking Student Security Too Far [OPINION]
The Manalapan-Englishtown School district was one of the first to start talking about stepping up security measures after the Newtown tragedy. Can there ever be too much safety? Yes, and now they've made a ridiculous decision.
New security measures that will be put into place include enhancing the district’s video surveillance system, establishing new visitor protocols, and developing guidelines for after-school facility usage.
Personally, all of those are good moves. But, cancelling the Halloween parade is ridiculous. Part of these new plans tie in to new security procedures for large-scale events, like the parade.
There is such a thing as over protection. While what happened in Newtown is beyond words, we can't let it change our lives completely. We can't let the "little things" that we enjoy, like the parade, be taken away from us.
Security in schools need to be reevaluated by all districts. Having armed officers in the hallways is a controversial option that is better discussed at another time. Cancelling an event that happens in October in January is stupid, and not fair to students and residents.