2 Sep 2008

Guam teachers' federation rubbishes new school bag law

2:01 pm on 2 September 2008

The Federation of Teachers in Guam says a new law requiring students to bring transparent bags to school is unnecessary and ineffective.

The president, Matt Rector, says the rule was implemented last week, following a ruling a couple of years earlier making mesh bags compulsory.

Mr Rector says the new policy is meant to deter students from sneaking contraband items such as weapons and drugs into school.

But he doesn't believe there's any rationale for such a rule.

"The biggest problem that we have is our government underfunds the school system by three-fourths, this is the problem, we don't have enough staff, support staff at every school like we should. So instead of dealing with the actual issues of having adults on campus making sure that our kids are safe we keep passing these bandaid regulations to make it seem like we're doing something to keep our children safe."

Matt Rector says the new rule will be straining the budgets of many students' families, who live at or below the poverty line.