![]() When did “weapon” and “peaceful” go together? Have they become a 21st century oxymoron that reflects our violent times? This Bill will see sentences for carrying a weapon that serves “no peaceful purpose” increased. At least we’re to be spared strip-searching, as this will be forbidden. How will we know what constitutes “reasonable grounds for carrying a weapon”? Bulges in clothing? Hoodies up? Furtive attitude? Odd walk? That’s most adolescent males. Isn’t it dangerous enough when conducted by the police? A legal affairs spokesman says that taking a knife from a 14-year-old can be extremely dangerous. Yet a proposed measure contained in the violent crime reduction Bill about to complete its final stages in Parliament suggests that teachers should be given powers, albeit voluntary, to frisk pupils suspected of carrying knives. However, I wouldn’t go through bags or blazers - and never trouser pockets (oh, the horror!) without their consent. At the last check it had half a plastic bottle of pale blue liquid on which I had written “poison”, three different types of cough medicine and a bright yellow cycling cape from Disney with a huge Mickey Mouse emblazoned on the back. Hopefully, they won’t ask to see my locker. They snap on with a reassuring sound of authority, sending a clear signal that I’m going right to the back of the locker. Why only ever one? “It’s Connor’s, Miss”, as if that’s a perfectly rational explanation. Socks stiff with sweat, halves of jacket potatoes, odd training shoes. Amazing what they cram in and how immune to smell they are. ![]() Occasionally, I march them off for locker inspection. Their bags and lockers are no-go zones that I try not to get close to unless absolutely necessary. ![]() Yet not, one hopes, as bad as the pupils I teach. In that case, mine says I’m trying to hold onto organisation, have a sweet tooth, too many lipsticks for one lifetime, a penchant for shiny silver items, a fetish for Post-it notes and an eclectic pen selection. They say you can tell the state of a woman’s mind by the contents of her handbag.
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