BUT WE MUST PROTECT THE CHILDREN!
...from childhood obesity.
...from untoward examples (my favorite book to argue is Catcher in the Rye - because once I convince the parents that despite the foul language and cigarettes, that Holden's message is one of abstinence for all the right reasons, they usually shut up).
...from bullies.
...from each other.
...from their parents.
...from themselves.
...from the internet.
...from peanuts and other allergens.

The drug dogs are useless. Weapons? The latest on our campus is the handy-dandy pocket screwdriver - just short enough to be "legal," to avoid weapon's prosecution.

Zero-tolerance policies. The kids get kicked out of school. They get sent to the alternative centers. The money doesn't follow, so we have a building full of drug-addicted (including nicotine) students with no resources to do anything about it and state mandated testing required (this will take WEEKS of my time to coordinate and administer, which means I will be unavailable to counsel or work directly with students).

I refuse to give up. The alternative is unacceptable.

How about we work at it from both sides?