&#62; that is an over-reaction on a massive scale is not considered anything short of normal.<p>I think it is more subtle than that. If it was about safety, they would cancel cheerleading and football. I know I have been repeating myself in 2 other comments on the same thread, I feel strongly about this, see here <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5538a1.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5538a1.htm</a> for some CDC stats on 2005-2006 ).<p>What seems to happen is that schools are interested not in safety but in avoiding litigation.  So they are only concerned with the perception of safety. It all revolves around "Would we get sued?" or "Legally, did we cover our asses?"<p>Schools should just merge with TSA, they both seems to share their delusions about safety.