Communities have a responsibility to provide schools where students can learn in safety.
But the ramped up security measures at both Haverhill High School and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, also in Haverhill, are over the top. They are coming dangerously close to violating personal privacy rights, if they have not already crossed that line.
The measures are already in place at Whittier. And when classes start today at Haverhill High, every visitor will have to present a driver's license or other form of identification. That person's information will be run through a computer program called LobbyGuard. According to school officials, if the visitor is listed in a sex offender registry or is a parent under a court order to stay away from a child, the person will not be allowed into the school.
Even if no derogatory information comes up, visitors will be photographed and have to wear a badge with their image, identifying information and the name of those they are visiting.
This, obviously, is all about "protecting the children." Of course children should be protected. There is good reason to demand identification of those visiting the school, and those names ought to be checked against a list of any parent or other relative who has been ordered by the court to stay away from a student.
But going beyond that is not really about protecting students. It is an overreaction to the fear of litigation.
School officials should not be blamed entirely for this — society has brought it on itself. Just about every accident, every bad outcome, every random mishap is grounds for a lawsuit. A battery of invasive hurdles like this is similar to doctors practicing defensive medicine.
Still, it goes too far. As school officials know, many of those listed on sex offender registries are not predators. That is why there are different levels on the registry. And predators, while they may spend time near schools hoping to meet children, do not go "shopping" for victims on a visit within a school.
Excessive security could limit what schools provide. A guest lecturer might decide he doesn't want his privacy invaded. In theory, his license is only being checked with the sex offender registry, but where is the proof that other things can't or won't be checked as well?
On principle, outsiders with nothing to hide may simply refuse to enter the school under such security restrictions.
Big Brother was supposed to be a nightmare to avoid. Public schools should not deliberately become that nightmare.
