Final answer:
The phrase that makes the thesis statement wordy is 'Although meant to ensure student safety and security'
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase that makes the thesis statement wordy is 'Although meant to ensure student safety and security'.
By removing this phrase, the thesis statement becomes more concise: 'School metal detectors destroy academic culture'.
With the removal of the wordy phrase, the thesis statement becomes clearer and more direct in conveying the main idea of the argument.
Learn more about Identifying wordiness in a thesis statement