Arizona student arrested for planning food fight
By jarespond - Posted on May 21st, 2006
This will be a quick post because I'm currently in the middle of a drive across the continental United States. I'm right around the Arizona region at the moment, and I saw a very strange piece of local news that illustrates the extent to which schools rely on the power of the police to deal with students in situations where such actions are unnecessary.
According to the Arizona Republic, a student, age 17, is currently in jail for allegedly planning a food fight in the school cafeteria. I can see where this would be a matter of school discipline (never mind the fact that the alleged food fight never happened, and the day for its alleged happening has already passed), but I cannot determine why he was arrested. Given all of the dangerous actions being taken by children of all ages at school, nearly all of the time, I can't see that this particular incident merits law enforcement.
Deal with real violence, racism, homophobia, and other social problems in school, and don't arrest kids for writing about throwing spaghetti.
Hi, I'm a student at this school that is on the news right now... Here's my viewpoint:
Since the food fight didn't happen, does that make it okay? Believe me, they WOULD have gone through with the plan if every single teacher was present at lunch, with security AND police. Not to mention, people walking around with video cameras...
If there weren't all of those people present, there was every intention of starting a foodfight.
And throwing spaghetti? Ha, very funny but a couple years ago at this school, a food fight turned into a RIOT and people threw FULL pop cans! These foodfights escalate and people won't be throwing harmless food like spaghetti.
I applaud my school administration's choice of action. I believe it is not okay to plan FIGHTING (food or not) on campus. I'd like to stay safe.
Did you mention this kid specifically targeted certain teachers? Not okay!!
Thank you for your time.
Ha-ha, charged with "Attempted food fighting"
that is freaking outrageous!