Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Do Schools Have The Right To Strip Search Students?
The Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday over the case of a school strip searching a 13 year old girl six years ago on suspicion of drug possession. The drug in question was a prescription strength ibuprofen and the girl was professionally stripped searched my two female school employees. She was forced to shed clothing to her bra and panties and actually stretch out the elastic on both and shake the garments. No pills were found. The zero-tolerance laws enacted in recent years brought this search to such intrusive levels. Now the young lady is 19 and the question of legality is to be decided by the Supremes. After listening to the arguments the betting money is favoring a decision on the side of the school. Click on the title above to read greater detail about the case, and the arguments, and comment on your impressions of the circumstances. The Court will release its decision in June.
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If the school is suspicious, and has caught this person skipping, or misbehaving, or not paying attention and seems kind of out of it, then they have the right to strip search. If the school sees someone acting a tad bit suspicious, they shouldn't take it to another level of strip search. They should keep their eye on the student, then maybe conduct one.
ReplyDelete^ Tiffany Trad
ReplyDeleteI do not think it is the duty of a school or any educational facility to strip search their students. I find that strip searching a child in a learning environment that is supposed ensure trust and security undermines the boundaries set in place to begin with.A strip search should be done at a police station by a police officer who has been trained to handle these types of situations.It also creates unnecessary problems and legal implications for everyone involved for example religious tenets my be violated, particularly in the case of the Muslim Hijab or the Jewish Yarmulke.
ReplyDeleteSarah Prentice
I think strip searching a student is necessary when the safety of other students is endangered. We know that the selling and distribution of drugs in schools increase each year and we need to find ways to stop this because if we don't do it now we won't be able to do it later. So, if in a school the authorities have searched the student and haven't found anything let's say in his/her locker on in his/her backpack if they think the risk is really high they should strip search him/her to avoid fatal consequences.
ReplyDeleteI think there should be some kind of age cap. Middle school and below, it's not appropriate. If it's above high school, though, it's fine. Also, there needs to be conclusive evidence. If they're not 99.9% sure that the person has drugs or something else of danger on their person, then there is no legitimate reason to strip search them. Also, I think that making the girl stretch the elastic on her bra and underwear was ridiculous; they had already done enough as it was.
ReplyDeleteNicholas Plotnicoff
ReplyDeleteStrip seraching a kid who endangers the environment is acceptable but it has to be done in an acceptable manner. It shouldnt be a search that violates the persons right because if they arent found with drugs then they are going to be completly shocked and violated. it has to be done in a way that they are not harmed. also it has to be done by a proffesional such as cop or someone with authority not a teacher who does not have the training to do a strip search.
Nick Plotnicoff
Strip searching in schools will always be a touchy subject because all students wants the satisfaction of knowing they are safe, but they don't want to be the one who is mistakenly accused of carrying illegal contraband on campus. Personally I am not in favor of a strip search, especially when no school administrator is officially trained or certified to take on the task of a full body cavity search of a student. Also I am sure no professional would want to put their job on the line and place themselves in a sticky situation such as strip searching a middle school child. if a strip search is to be used at a worst case scenario i believe it shouldnt take place in the school because maybe the child will never feel safe there again and this ruins another part of the child's life. There is no clear cut decision for this subject because everyone wants to be safe but the only thing that comes into play is whether the whole or the individual is more important, but this varies on the evidence, type of threat, and the confidence in accusation.
ReplyDeleteNick Gonzalez
Period 6
Shouldn't there at least be probable cause? If you read the details of the case, the charge was based on innuendo and hearsay. I've read comments by competent Court watchers and they believe the judges will vote 8-1 or 7-2 in favor of the school.
ReplyDeleteI think that if a child does decide to sell drugs or bring something to school that is prohibited than they know the consequences. If they bring anything to school then they can expect whatever the consequence, but in this case I think they shpuld have done a little more research into the subject before they decided to strip search her. In these days I would be against it but with all of the younger kids getting into what the older teens do too its just something that changes with the time. Personally I don't think it's acceptable and isn't your own word of the truth enough? But in the times that we are in now you can almost expect anything and I think that it might continue anyway.
ReplyDeleteLauren Osterfeld
i think that strip searches in school are against a student's privacy. i think that is totally out of control. i only think a strip search should happen if that student is endangering other students health or life. With the new court case going on now, i believe the school was out of hand. they were just going to word of mouth and had no physical evidence and for them to do s trip search without a parents consent is a violation in so many many ways. I believe strip searches should not take place in school unless they have physical evidence that they need to, not by word of mouth.
ReplyDeleteMichael Shep:
ReplyDeleteAs long as the searching is done professionally and in a professional environment(school), there is every right for a school to strip search a student. I view it as a mistake on their part when they don't find anything on me and just be happy that everything is OK. It comes down to a matter of privacy. Men allow doctors to check for hernias(cough) and that is done by a professional so I feel safe. The same should go for a strip search.
For me the right for a school to strip search a student is neither wrong nor right. I feel there are a lot of double standards to strip searching a student and the reasons why. First off I feel it is very different for a girl than a guy to be searched. In a way I feel most guys could care less, if they were innocent they would be comfortable with the situation, they would do whatever it took to prove their innocence. A young woman however may feel differently. I personally, if i were convicted of something and needed to be strip searched I would not mind. However if I was 13, I would be completley different. I dont know what it is about being older that would make me mind the search less, maybe I am not so embarassed as I would be if i were 13. Who really knows. However I can see how it would be traumatizing for young girls, not only are you accused of something, but then you have to be interegated and then strip searched. We were talking about having a cause for searching, and like you said rights dont matter in school; but thats a whole different subject. I feel that administration should know what going to far is. Going to far to find that a person possibly has advil compared to a gun, theres a big difference. I guess it is kind of hard to say where right and wrong is. As for a students word, look at the 60's and 70's and then today kids lie. I feel that students morals have just diminished thus who can really trust their word. If it is necessary, for the safety of a entire school then by all means strip search, professionally of course.
ReplyDeletesorry mr. burkey my aim wasnt working. My s/n is silentdreamz51
ReplyDelete-- Colleen Millerman
I find that this is a huge violation of privacy and the reason for searching her in this manner was completely unnecessary.The thing that irks me the most is the school never informed her parents prior before the strip search. I feel she was taken advantage of and never had a moment to defend herself. It is one thing if the administrators had a substantial probable cause such as seeing her suspiciously and possibly making a drug deal but, this was not the case. They based it off a rumor and quite frankly anyone can say anything doesn't mean it is true or acceptable. Also the girl was a minor! and generally they need to have a parents consent... she was only 13 this must be an awful thing to remember and live with.The school went to far.
ReplyDeleteAlix Luntz
Nicholas Plotnicoff
ReplyDeleteI have thought over this topic shows different viewpoints. IN one way it is acceptable because it can prevent other students from being in danger however in another way it is complelty insane because one is violating the searched students rights. If we were to go and strip search a student who is 15 and is only suspected of drugs and she is found empty handed what are we saying of her. she is going to be in a complete state of shock for most of her teenage years for her to be suspected of having drugs and handled in an upmost level of disrespect. also i think that a school should have a proper set of codes in this situation and should not randomly just decide to strip search the girl. it should be done by a proffesional who is prepared and with someone in the family knowing about the situation or even watching it to make sure everything is alright. however if there was a threat such as a gun or bazooka it would be more acceptable but just for the simple case of drugs which arent an imminent threat there should be a set of codes.
Nick Plotnicoff Period 6
You can't be sent to jail simply because someone says you did something. The same should go for being searched. Unless there is concrete evidence, like surviellance video of the student selling/buying drugs, that the student is in possesion of something illegal or dangerous, then schools should have no right to strip search students. Its a clear violation of privacy.
ReplyDeleteI also understand the school's point of view. They're trying to prevent dangerous situations and make students feel safe in school. But honestly, it makes me feel less safe to know that the school has the right to violate my privacy simple based on "he said/she said". I'm fine with locker searches, metal detectors, and drug dogs but strip searching students is going way too far and is an abuse of authority.
sorry I forgot to put my name! Erica Holdridge
ReplyDeleteWell...I think I have voiced my opinion enough, but for further documentation...I don't think that strip searching students is acceptable. Quite frankly, if I knew I was innocent and the option was strip search or expulsion...my stubborn hard headedness would force me to choose expulsion. It's not the actual search that would bother me, as I am comfortable enough with my body to not feel violated...however...it is more so the CONCEPT. Why should anyone but me have a say over what happens to my body? Its mine, and unless I say you can touch it-- hands off!! I think that the degree of immediacy is also key-- strip searching for prescription pain killers? really? I think there are other ways to handle that type of situation!! In the case of a gun or bomb...pat the kid down! Don't strip him to his undergarments in search of a pill-sized gun. Its ridiculous. I do understand the urgency of some situations, but I feel that strip searching is not the morally right way to go about it. As I said in class, there could quite possibly be psychological ramifications as a result of this FORCED violation (no, not the personal choice and the poor decision making that results in failing a class). You have NO option and NO choice with a strip search. It is an ultimatum. Strip down, or leave.
ReplyDeleteAs Mr. Burkey said in class, if I have done NOTHING bad in my past, if I am a straight A student, an avid volunteer in my community, and an all around good kid with no disciplinary record, what merits ANY person to call a strip search upon me? There is NO probable cause and it is, in essence, a battle of he said she said. What makes the word of someone else better than mine?
All in all, I think that if you treat kids as criminals...guess what? That's what they will become! Well...not all the time, but it's still a good point.
above comment:
ReplyDeleteKelly Cox
Period 6
As usual, Kelly and I live on the same street with this issue. The concept of "zero-tolerance" has eliminated all sense of proportion. All of those yet to comment, it is your duty to disagree with me in this forum if you are so swayed.
ReplyDeleteThis whole strip search issue is just rediculous. The girl had a clean past and yet she was forced to be strip searched because of something someone said. There has to be some legitmate proof that someone has a weapon or something that could harm others in order for a search. But even so i have to agree with Kelly, they should pat down the kid not make them strip down to their undergarments. This girl will have to live with this for the rest of her life. If this keeps on going there will be a complete loss of our individual rights.
ReplyDelete-Jen Proscia (Per 6)
Lauren Brown:
ReplyDeleteAs i said in class i do not think it is that big of a deal to strip search a student. I believe it would be a minor inconvienance. I would rather have students know i got strip searched and im clean than think i have drugs on me. What if she had cocaine one her or oxycodon?? Than this issue would not be so controversial. If someone had those kind of drugs or some kind of lethal weapon it is tottally necessary. I dont see why someone would care so much if their clean. Yeah, maybe it would be annoying but once they strip search you and you have nothing, you have completely proven your clean and the issue is over with.
Blake roth
ReplyDeletei do nopt feel that schools should have the right to strip search without a few conditions. i feel that the parents need to be contacted first before any seaching is done. i also feel that a school should not be able to search just on mere suspicion or a rumor. the school would need clear evidence that students are in danger to strip search. it was very wrong of the school to search this little girl without contacting her parents and having no evidence. if schools are given this power then what would be next? cavity searches?
Strip searches should be allowed but only in certain circumstances. For example if a person is suspected to have drugs on him search him, but do not strip search. However if a person is suspected of having a gun on him then strip search. Another thing, we have to find out how much this extra invasion of privacy really helps. Also, America is safe so students in American schools should have the same rights as when they are out of school.
ReplyDeleteAdi Aganovic
I don't think that this situation warranted a strip search. I could understand if they were looking for something that endangered the entire student body...but they were looking for one ibuprofen pill. That doesn't make sense to me. They had to strip search her for ONE pill due to another student claiming that she had it? That doesn't seem fair to me, especially after they searched the girl's other belongings and found nothing. 13 year old girls are uncomfortable enough with their bodies fully clothed. Having to be strip searched is extremely embarrassing and traumatizing for a girl that age. I don't think it was necessary at all. For a bomb - ok. For a pill - no.
ReplyDeleteStrip searches should be conducted in schools only under certain guild lines. First and for most in order to be strip searched you have to be accused of doing something that might endanger others like bringing a gun or knife to school not to search for drugs, there is something called a pat down that works pretty good for drugs. Also when a strip search is called for the parents should be notified but they shouldn’t have a say over what will happen because well the parents can’t see their sweet little Susie Creamcheese do anything bad.
ReplyDeleteAlso the reason why now a day’s people are more acceptable of strip searches is because now a day no ones word holds any weight because no one values it anymore, so if you give the word that you have nothing on you it means nothing.
Sarah Michaud
ReplyDeleteAlthough at certain times strip searching may be necessary, i believe that there should be very strict guidelines for it. The school should not be able to search kids just for a minor suspicion, there should be hard evidence against that kid. While it may be necessary, an unnecessary strip search will be very traumatic to any child and should not be taken lightly. Also, the strip search of the girl for one ibuprofen tablet is a bit ridiculous. I agree with brittany who said that 13 year old girls are uncomfortable enough with their bodies already, a random stripping with only make it that much worse.
As I said before, I do support strip search, but in this case that the court is debating I completely oppose because they didn't have enough evidences to blame her. If she already had a record or if at least there were enough reasons to think she was the one distributing the drug then it could be a good reason to strip search her but I don't think the parents should be informed after they have done it, I think one of the parents at least should be present during the strip search to avoid any problems that this can create. But of course, strip search should only be used as the final way to find the drug dealer because it goes completely against people's privacy.
ReplyDeleteI think that depending on the situation, strip searches should or should not be warranted. If there seems to be a high threat to other students, staff etc. then a strip search could be neccesary, but there should be probable cause. Strip searches could lead to a lawsuit if the student feels, or says they feel violated. It is an uncomfortable sitauation for the student, there should be parental/guardian permission before one is given to a student. It is better to be safe, so if that is what the situatuion needs to come down to (after they have done everything they possibly could) then I am all for it.
ReplyDelete"Justice David Souter seemed to lean that way when he said at one point, 'My thought process is, I would rather have the kid embarrassed by a strip search, if we can't find anything short of that, than to have some other kids dead because the stuff is distributed at lunchtime and things go awry.'"
ReplyDeleteThe justice makes a valid point. However, i 100% feel that if strip searching is entirely necessary a parent or guardian must be contacted for consent before completely corrupting someones privacy.In the case of the 13 yr old girl, the strip search was not necessary. The suspected drug was prescription strength ibuprophen and it wasn't found in her bag, locker, or pockets. There needs to be a line drawn at some point and hopefully the the supreme court is able to make that line.
I think that depending on the situation a strip search could be used. Yes in some ways it does violate a childs privary. I think that in order for a strip search to occur the students parent or guardian should be contacted immediately before any course of action is taken. Strip searches could lead to a lawsuit if the student feels, or says they feel violated.Yes the school's main goal is to protect everyone but while doing this you cant violate someone's right for privary
ReplyDeleteI think strip searching is a huge violation of privacy. Especially for a little 13 year old. I do however understand that strip searching someone can keep others out of danger. As long as there is probable cause or a history of a child with drugs/violece ect, then only should a strip search be allowed. The action should take place at a police station by a professional.
ReplyDeletehonestly, if it were me, id tell them the truth from the start and if they continuously botherd me, id let them do the search jus to get them off my back. Id rather be proven inoccent than have an air of suspicion hangin over me for an indefinite time. And when they don't find any drugs on me, id cuss everyone of them out and be asked to be removed from that teacher's class, if it really traumatized me dat much dat she saw my HOT body (jus kidding). But i think the reason our generation is so lenient about strip searchin is because now, through technology, the body has lost its sacredness, we see nudity all the time- especially in advertising, so i guess we just got used to it- not that it's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteIm am not totally opposed to strip searching...but it completely depends on the way you do it. First of all the terms on which you strip search should be much more than a rumor. Its one thing if a child is acting loopy or misbehaving in class or if the child has a record, but if your putting that child through such a embarrassment because you heard something,thats ridiculous. Second of all if you HAVE TO strip search a child, I believe the parent at least has the right to know prior to serch, you dont want to hear about your childs privicy being violated after the fact. If it were me I would object to a strip search, but at the same time I also believe that is what the child might possibly possess is dangerous, like a weapon, then yes, they should be serched.
ReplyDeleteWe discussed this in great depth in class friday. But this is is preposterous! A school should not be exempt from 4th Amendment rights. What gives an educational institution right to invade someone's personal property under a mere "suspicion"?? I honestly hope Supreme Court does not rule strip searching constitutional. To me, it's ridiculous they're even considering it Constitutional. I totally agree with your generation Mr Burkey. There is noo waayyyy someone's strip searching me based on suspicion.
ReplyDeleteI think that strip searches should be conducted only is certain situations in school and with parental consent. I think parents should be informed if their child is suspected of having drugs and as a result they should make the call of whether or not to strip search them. Also in the case of this 13 year old I think the situation didn't require a strip search because it wasn't that serious and the chances of her actually having the drugs if she is a good student who hasn't ever really gotten in trouble are slim to none. There should be a an age limit on strip searches in schools because it can be a very truamatic situations for a young child. I think strip searches should be allowed in school but only if the person is under suspicion of having weapons or any threatens to the school or any situation like that, because then it's used to ensure that the school is a safe place.
ReplyDeleteI think the real question should be "what are we strip searching for?". If word has it that some student has a painkiller on them such as tylenol, advil, ibuprofin or mydol, then is it really necesarry to go beyond a locker/backpack/pocket search? Not dropping names, but there have been times during school that I've had a terrible headache or stomach cramp and needed something like that and a friend was able to offer it. It was that or suffer longer while forcing a parent who is at work to bring over some. Now if there is a case of someone passing out from zanax dealt by another student, or rumors of illegal drugs or weapons, then by all means strip search a student, especially because those are what put other students at risk. But to be strip searched and subsequently humiliated and violated over something as simple as tylenol? That's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that really pisses me off about this is that there is no parental consent when there should be. Students are minors and since we have no say, our parents should, and yet they don't have to be contacted until after the matter. Imagine a parent getting a call from their child sobbing on the other end telling them they were just strip searched, especially when their student has the cleanest record and great grades. Schools need more than just the word of another student to take it that far. Now if we're talking about a student at a lower rated school who frequently gets into trouble, than it's a very reasonable thing. That student would be angry more than upset. Whereas if it happened to me, I'd be all tears because I know I've never done anything wrong. -- There should also be an age limit on this. High school students could probably handle a strip search much better than middle school students. But basically, weapons are a greater threat than drugs. Investigate the student's belongings, their locker and send someone to their home if this is about drugs. But if a student is suspected of carrying a weapon, then a strip search is needed. It really all depends on the circumstance.
I find this a very interesting subject because it truly shows how little rights we have as students. I still don't know why some of our most basic rights given to us by the Bill of Rights have no place in school. Some obviously, such as the right to carry firearms, have NO place in schools and any institution needs to take steps, such as body and possession searching, to prevent such weapons from entering campus. How then does our right to unreasonable searches and seizures get thrown outside? Why is it that this amendment has no bearing in a school for no other reason than the person is a minor? There is no probable cause for a person with a clean track record showing no physical sighs of wrongdoing! Slander towards a person is an illegal act in its own right. By damaging a person's reputation, those committing the slanderous act are as guilty as giving false testimony in a court. The idea that even a small childish rumor will lead to a strip search is preposterous and wrong. Unless the student willingly (not forcefully) gives up his/her 4th Amendment rights, then no school official, nurse, or officer has the right to strip search a person showing no signs of probable cause.
ReplyDelete--Chandler Weiner--
www.ChandlerWeiner.com
No matter how old a person is, if a school is questioning a students saftey I believe that a strip search is accaptable. The school is only looking out for the girls sake. In the case that the person being searched is underage, I believe that there should be a parent/guardian present at the time of the search.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I wouldn't care whether or not the school is trying to save my life by strip searching me to find "drugs" I would tell them to call my lawyer and refuse the actions until my parents and/or lawyer was present. I am the only one in charge of my own body and for the school who hardly knows me to take off my clothes to look for something that I might not even have on me is abominable. Not only do I think it shouldn't be approved, but I also think that girl deserves compensation for everything she's been through. Something like that is a scarring situation, and for a girl to be so young and have to remember that for the rest of her life... I feel really bad.
ReplyDeleteI believe there has to be some sort of balance, like only strip searching if its absolutely necessary. If someone is under suspicion for having a gun or something, then that puts people in danger, and its okay to strip search them. I can understand the insecurities a teenage girl may have, and i do believe strip searching in general is a violation of privacy, but if it is necessary for safety then i suppose its fine.
ReplyDeleteThis whole issue is ridiculous to me. I understand that sometimes strip searching is needed to ensure the safety of others but is having a pain medication really a threat to humankind from a 13 year old girl? Seriously? The fact that something like a pain medication could end up with a young girl being strip searched is crazy! Her parents weren't even contacted on the issue and she was a minor. I don't that on a "whim" a strip search should be allowed. A real threat yes, but a pain medication, no.
ReplyDeleteI should probably specify that this is Jenn Greene. And the post above is mine. Oops.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't believe a school needs to go to such an extreme, unless it's a dire emergency; like a gun or a bomb. To go through something like that for such a minor issue, in this case prescribed drug, was quite unnecessary, especially for a 13 year old girl. If a strip search had to be done, I believe that a student in high school is better equipped to deal with a situation like this than a middle school student. I believe she was not mature enough and this situation was probably traumatizing for her, let alone her dignity all because someone accused her of having drugs, without hard evidence. Then after all her belongings were searched and she came out clean, they still felt that they needed to strip her of her clothes to "be sure". Overall, I don't believe schools should be allowed to strip search, it's wrong. This further shows how little rights students have and people wonder why my generation accepts authority as easily as we do. This may not be the main reason, because there are many contributing factors, but this is definitely one of the reasons.
ReplyDeleteChristina Chang
Period 6
If a school has reason to believe that a student has something illegal on them, whether that be drugs, or a weapon or something else, the school should have the right to strip search that student. Does it suck if you get strip searched and you have nothing on you? Yeah, but the fact is that it is a minor inconvenience. They do it behind a curtain so it's not like everybody you know can see you. It is better that schools be overcautious than to have students carrying illicit materials with them on to school grounds.
ReplyDeleteWhat a country we live in that strip searches little girls for having believed to have ibuprofen, a simple pain reliever. It's just the start of things that schools have the power to do that the Bill of Rights says can't happen unless they have probable cause. Sure, if I'm a straight F student with a 0.nothing gpa who has been caught previously with the stuff, then strip search me. I'll probably have some. But a 13 year old girl with no previous history? Come on, guys. Wake up and smell the suppression. If this ruling passes in June, just think of what other things they can suspect you with. What if, for instance, the school found out that your parents are part of the NRA. Now they are going to suspect that you have a weapon just by the slip of a rumor or drop of a bad word. I mean, where would it end? Though this doesn't exactly pertain to me because I will be leaving the public school forum very soon, this ruling will spell future rules set by schools for my kids. Just think about that.
ReplyDeleteStrip searching a high school student is acceptable if there is porable cause and if the student has a history of illegal activities he/she has done in the past. But searching a 13 yr old girl thoroughly shouldn't be acceptable and if the supreme court is favoring the school we have a problem with the system.
ReplyDeleteMuhtasim Rafid
I believe that the school has the right to strip search whoever they want if they know without a doubt that this person is a danger to the rest of the student population and the faculty.
ReplyDeleteTresor
I think that the subject of strip search has to reach a very fine balance or its never going to work. So the kids have some parts of their body that they would rather hide,well its worth the searc if what they are trying to hide is more than skin. But, there is a line and it has to be defined. I think if the hidden stuff could be dangerous to other students then the student loses their rights and they should be searched. If the item in question endangers only the student at hand then by all means, let the little sucker endanger themselves. Now, if the student for example is an insecure-unstable teenage girl going through puberty, then there should be special circumstances. There could be parent notification pre-search; or a tusted adult present, such as a teacher or parent, to help lead the insecure teenager through a professional search. These are just some ideas that along with other great ideas by fellow classmates could be implemented to fix this problem.
ReplyDeleteAndres "the Dr." Uribe
Per.. 6
I am actually shocked that a school would strip search a 13 year old girl on suspicion of drug possession. I can't believe she was actually stripped down to her panties and bra. To me, this seems ridiculous, unfair, mortifying and I am pretty sure it is illegal; because of the fact that the girl was 13 and she didn't have a legal guardian. It saddens me that the drug in question was a prescription strength ibuprofen. I mean honestly, who cares if a student takes a tylenol during school?? Even so, no pills were found. I believe the zero-tolerance laws enacted in recent years are too strict and definitely too invasive. I am interested to hear the outcome of this court case. I hope it is on the young ladies side.
ReplyDeletesorry this is late.
I feel that strip searching anyone is a complete invasion of privacy and no matter what the reason should not be done. Even if a child is believed to be carrying drugs or weapons the child needs to be taken into custody with the knowledge of his/her parents. If the child does not have parents, close relatives and a guardian need to be notified of the situation. This needs to be emphasized especially at lower schools where children are in their pre-teen years. Such an experience for a young child, especially one who is innocent, an be life-changing and very emotional.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that with the amount of shootings we've been seeing within the past years, i do not blame school authorities for wanting to be able to perform strip searches. But the main point still stands that these searches are extremely shocking and embarrassing for young adults and preteens, and therefore should not be practiced. How ever, i do believe that strip searches should be aloud on college campuses. By then, students aren't so impressionable. Now Obviously there should be extenuating circumstances before a strip search is allowed to be performed. And considering the embarrassing nature of it, these searches should be completely confidential.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the zero-tolerance policy is made very clear. Materials such as illegal drugs, weapons and even Tylenol or Ibuprofen, should not be allowed on campus. Parents trust that their kids are sent to a safe place each day and the faculty and security should be able to take precautions or necessary procedures that will keep all students safe.
ReplyDeleteGiving the student the chance to admit they have something illegal in possession should be the first step. Strip searching students should be an absolute last resort.
Although it is a violation of personal privacy, violating the zero-tolerance policy can lead to drug dealing on campus, or even worse-an incident like the ones at Virginia Tech or Columbine High School.
The security that strip-searched this young girl, had evidence that she was carrying materials that were not allowed on campus and had to take drastic measures in order to keep other students and faculty safe.
Strip searching in schools is always a tough decision. on one hand you want to make sure that everyone at the school is safe but on the other hand you want to keep that being searched safe and make sure there is a good reason for the search. Strip searching such a young girl could be traumatic. This girl is now 19 and is probably still very uncomfortable with the thought of what happened that day. in this case i would have to lean towards the girl. The way you described the strip search made it sound so humiliating and public all for prescription medication. for all the school knew the girl might have had a serious medical problem what deserved those medications. Stip searching in schools should remain on a single case basis. every case has a different reason and result for or against the strip search.
ReplyDelete-Hila Yasur