Female students at Tri-Valley Central School are fed up with the prying security guard who quizzes them about their periods in the name of security.
Grahamsville — Several television news crews from New York City are camped outside the Tri-Valley Central School following the story in today's Times Herald-Record about what question a school security guard asked a 14-year-old female student.
The girl was called out of class by a security guard during a school sweep last week to make sure no kids had backpacks or other banned bags.
Samantha Martin had a small purse with her that day.
That's why the security guard, ex-Monticello cop Mike Bunce, asked her The Question.
She says he told her she couldn't have a purse unless she had her period. Then he asked, "Do you have your period?" []
This isn't just the alleged officious perversion of a lone ex-cop. These interrogations are part of an even larger and stupider policy.
You see, Tri-Valley doesn't allow students to carry bags!
The school banned backpacks in the halls this year for two reasons, George said: Student health, because heavy bags could hurt the kids' backs or people could trip on them; and for security concerns, felt nationwide, about concealed weapons.
Jenny Watson, 17, a senior, said kids have been confused since school started about the bag rules. Last week, a rumor started that girls could only carry purses if they had their periods. And then, on Sept. 19, school staff did the bag sweep. []
The ban goes beyond the hallways. Kids allegedly being escorted out of class by school security for bringing purses.
Good for the young women at Tri-Valley for sticking up for themselves: Girls started gluing pads to their clothing to protest the invasion of their privacy.
Recent Comments