Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
	"The obligation placed on schools to provide a safe learning environment is more important than the civil rights of the students."
Please review the arguments for and against the statement and enter your response.
		Pros American public schools must cope with the complex problems of drug use and violence. Principals need to be able to use a wide variety of tools to combat these problems. Random, school-wide locker searches is one excellent way to keep drugs and guns out of the school. Learning can only happen in a genuinely safe environment. Democracy will be able to survive into the 21st century when public schools graduate knowledgeable, drug-free, healthy citizens.
		Cons Ignoring the civil rights of public school students will not secure the continuation of democracy. In fact, just the opposite is true. Justifying the loss of civil rights to any one segment of society effectively undermines civil rights for everyone. Random, school-wide locker searches are a violation of every student's civil rights. Searches must be specific and justifiable with a reasonable suspicion. Principals can only be effective in the fight against illegal drugs and guns if they follow constitutionally guaranteed due process.
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