Another pointless lawsuit in the works.. (taping students in for curfew)

[Elgin Clock]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080520/...ct_taped_doors

The people who make these complaints should do one or both of the following:

A) Get a life.
or
B) Go on the trips themselves, & see what it's like to try & manage a group of students & then rethink their belief on suing over common practices like this.

It's easy to complain when you're sitting back home & sending your kids on a trip with other people. Time for people to step up & take (good) actions towards their kids rather than just complain.

Some people are just clueless.

[JoeXIII'007]

It's rather interesting that a choir had duct tape...

But in all seriousness, it really depends on how 'sealed' this door was, which I make the assumption it was just a few strips (the Yahoo story is not very detailed). Plus, I think the quote

Schools Superintendent Jim Witt said the tape would show if students violated curfew but wouldn't have kept them from escaping in an emergency.

says it all.

Conclusion: What ever happened to the good ol days of my parents when there were certain things that built character, instead of this sort of stuff?

*sigh*

[redtide]

wow that is sad that they would sue over their being tape on their kids door. I have gone on 4 spring trips durring high School and have had no problem with the taping in the rooms because it keeps us from doing stupid stuff like getting arested

[Madison]

Originally Posted by redtide

wow that is sad that they would sue over their being tape on their kids door. I have gone on 4 spring trips durring high School and have had no problem with the taping in the rooms because it keeps us from doing stupid stuff like getting arested

The tape probably has little to do with whether or not you're arrested.

[JaneYoung]

This is a thought or two:

One way to eliminate problems with communication is to communicate.
In this case, it would mean that the person(s) in charge of the trip would communicate the travel plans to the parents of the students involved, as well as the students, in advance.

It is my understanding that many teams who have students staying in hotels, tape the room. This is to put the students on notice that there is room check and if the tape is removed or damaged, the adult checking will know the tape has been tampered with. If I have this wrong, please correct me.

The purpose of the taping should be conveyed to everyone involved so that they know going into it what is involved.

My second thought is that students and parents should be instructed as to the expected appropriate conduct and behaviors of the students and adults involved in travel and the consequences that will occur if the expectations are not met. Hotels are not playgrounds for student groups that travel and that should be made clear. It should also be made clear that the ramifications could include the team being kicked out of the hotel and/or not invited back for future stays.

Bottom line, travel plans and guidelines should be discussed with students, parents, chaperones, and leaders well in advance of the trip.

[Koko Ed]

I remember a speech the head of Xerox Robotics Gene Wicks told our kids one time about taping them into their rooms: "If we have to tape you into your rooms, we're not taking you."

[Carlee10]

This is funny...but some people just have to have something to complain about. I wouldn't mind if it were me being taped, or taping somone else. Us teenagers just don't think sometimes, and I can see how they just wanted to keep anthing under control. I went on a trip, and there were several other groups, and they had a security officer on duty, so people couldn't bug other people trying to sleep. The case will probably be dropped, anyhow, if it even gets very far.

[Ericgehrken]

I understand the amount of liability trip chaperons take to allow us students to travel. These trips are a time for students to build character values such as being responsible and following a simple curfew. If we are taped inside of hotel rooms then we learn none of these values. We will simply become lunatics at every instance we are trusted and given freedom.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by firstbots195

These trips are a time for students to build character values such as being responsible and following a simple curfew. If we are taped inside of hotel rooms then we learn none of these values. We will simply become lunatics at every instance we are trusted and given freedom.

Unfortunately, there are those who don't "become lunatics" when given freedom. I would say that there are teams out there that have "troublemakers" on them. These kids may not need to deliberately do stupid things to get into trouble (i.e. they just do them without thinking). Any trouble is then blamed on the group. So the tape will enable the group to figure out who caused trouble or might have done so. Are these trips a time to build character? Yes. But I can understand why tape is used; the team/group doesn't want to run the risk of "Hey, you guys did xyz, don't come back ever again" when it was one or two students that were AWOL from their rooms at night.

What one student does affects the whole team. "One bad apple spoils the barrel."

[JaneYoung]

The part of the article that caught my attention was that the student was panicked by the taping procedure, thinking about fire safety issues. I respect that.

I have yet to see a team be taped in and I asked someone to explain it to me when I started reading about it on CD. For new students traveling in a group it is not wise to assume they know about this particular type of room monitoring or chaperoning.

[thefro526]

I was on a trip at the beginning of the month where we were tape in at night. I don't remember anyone saying anything negative about it aside from, "no wild party tonight." I don't really see anything illegal out of it and anyways anytime I've seen a door taped it was taped with masking tape or painters tape so that the pain wasn't damage. Now if you're a well bodied high school student and you can't break some tape shame on you.

[Cory]

First of all, this kid and his mom are both whiners. There was some tape on their door. BFD. Anyone who thinks some duct tape around the edge of the door (and I doubt the ENTIRE door was sealed...it was probably like a 6" long piece of tape) is going to keep their kid from exiting in the case of an emergency is nuts. Stories like this represent everything that is wrong with the litigious nature of our society.

Originally Posted by firstbots195

I understand the amount of liability trip chaperons take to allow us students to travel. These trips are a time for students to build character values such as being responsible and following a simple curfew. If we are taped inside of hotel rooms then we learn none of these values. We will simply become lunatics at every instance we are trusted and given freedom.

How is that true? If you were following curfew, you'd never even know your door was taped

I was a student on a team, and I know I wasn't always following curfew. Now that I'm partially responsible for the wellbeing of kids on my team, I don't want them having any unnecessary opportunities to get into trouble.

[JoshD]

This shows a lot of what is wrong with society. First, I don't care how much duct tape was on the door, there is no way it will keep the door from opening. Plus, the doors open inwards. Second, there is the general practice of suing people for little things that really don't matter.

I don't think there was any wrongdoing in this incident.

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by JoshD

First, I don't care how much duct tape was on the door, there is no way it will keep the door from opening. Plus, the doors open inwards.

Finally someone who has a brain, because I can tell you the whole state of Ohio doesn't or anyone working with the AP. This will change nothing, especially since an actual lawsuit going through the legal system is totally different than what is actually happening, some whiny parents complaining and throwing around loose threats.

[Jay Trzaskos]

I know that there are multiple teams and groups that follow the common practice of taping students in at night. This includes every school trip at my school district where students would be spending the night. There were certainly some exceptions on the robotics trips. For example drivers and scouts being taped in later on Friday nights once they got out of the pick meeting. But every student, regardless of years on the team, position on the team, or anything else, was taped in.

I know of a few teams that did not follow this practice, but after certain incidents they began and continue to follow this policy. I am in the general crowd of "Tape them in, if they follow curfew, they won't even know it's there." As long as the students are aware that they are being taped in, there should be no problems. If they need a mentor or chaperone they should be available by calling the chaperone's room.