Erosion of Democracy

Re “Court Backs Authority of School Guards,” Aug. 14: The ruling to broaden the power of security guards to detain students is one more step in the erosion of our democracy. We are educating children that it is OK to be stopped, questioned, searched, etc., by the authorities, without cause. They will incorporate this into their socialization as the way it’s supposed to be. The attitude will carry over off school grounds as they mature.

It seems teachers have already accepted this--as a June 27 letter from a teacher demonstrated (“Why all the fuss about school searches?”). If we trade freedom for security we will end up with neither. Wake up, America, before we become a police state.

Betts Harley

Costa Mesa