University Work Finished!

Finally finished that research paper in postgrad law!

That was an effort - mostly just trying to understand a field I have no prior experience with. One result is that I have a bit of a better understanding of what teachers want with their improved search powers ... the trouble comes with trying to compel a search if the student says "no". Schools have no explicit power to do that though they have an implicit power when it comes to safety, that does not leave teachers feeling very secure.

Probably all that is required is for some statement, say, as an amendment to the education act, affirming the schools existing powers and the context in which they are to be used.

New Zealand Schools do not have the US Schools power for suspicionless searches ... which means no random urinalysis for drug use, no metal-detectors at the gates, and drug sniffer dogs on campus become very iffy. These matters need to be examined though, fortunately, we don't have the kind of need that is seen in the US either.

Other iffy areas include the use of ccd cameras in school grounds and monitoring school network use. The Law Commission review has suggested a new surveillance act to cover these, to some extent. We can expect a full report towards the end of this year.

Meantime, there is a conference in Sydney covering social science and the law which would be a great place to air these sorts of issues academically. I figure I'll see if I can get a paper in. That will mean I'll have to get a passport .

Celebration involved a dinner at Malone's Irish Pub - the famous Steak and Guinness Pie lived up to its reputation - and a movie night in the city: Inception ... which is the year's must-see-on-the-big-screen event. The sound-track is built around those alien fart sounds we got in War of the Worlds and experience SF fans will know the themes quite well. However, the drama is well built and the theme handled with fewer than the usual internal inconsistancies ... the trailers actually undersell the film ... overall, the impact is strong and well worth the money. Go look.

The conclusion of this stage of my studies means that I can also concentrate properly on my marriage.