Here is a story you just have to read here or here… I am interested in what you all have to say on this.
This was heard in the US Supreme Court today...
Basically, this is a case of a girl who was stripped searched at school five years ago. Because, even though she had no prior behavior problems, school officials suspected she was carrying prescription strength Ibuprofen in her underwear. She wasn’t.
So what do you think? I mean there was a no-tolerance policy in place for all drugs, including prescription drugs included. And as a parent, I am glad for that. But at what cost do we want these things enforced?
When do schools cross the line in the name of protecting our children? What would you have done if this were your child? What would you have done if you were an educator at this school?
Interesting food for thought. Tell me what you think…
11 comments:
This is such a difficult balance! You could compare it to so many different settings...searching a mother's stroller and diaper bag at Disneyland, airport invasive searches,etc.
It seems that whenever something bad happens, people criticize the lack of invasive searches and call for more intervention. But then things like this happen.
I personally don't think searches for drugs are worth it nearly as much as searches for weapons in a school setting. People who really know what they are doing find ways to hide drugs that you may never discover--without searching actual body cavities like they do in prisons.
So, my vote would be to deal with violations regarding drugs, provide education and preventative measures, but skip the strip searches in schools for drugs.
Ibuprofen? Really?
Being an educator in a Public school I can and do see issues like this get out of hand. A strip search?? No Way! Unless you are protected by the law... but I can't imagine that a school nurse nor principal would ever want to get into that situation. I believe I heard this girl was set up by a peer ...a peer that was already in trouble... I could go on an on... there are better ways of handling the situation. I think I would have brought both girls in and have them sit there until the truth was told...
I would be doing exactly the same as this girls parents are doing and suing the school. And I wouldn't just go after the school I would specifically go after the ones who made her take off her clothes for sexual abuse. Yes I would. Strip searches are for JAILS/PRISONS fcol...not for schools.
What country do we live in? Last I checked it was the United States.
The people handling this situation showed VERY poor judgment skills. And the school as well if this was considered "Policy" to do searches such as this.
What "should" have been done was to call the girls parents and have them come in. If they were unavailable then have the girl wait in the office until they did become available. They also should have called in the girl who made the accusation and talked with them both at separate times. And then together.
At the very most if they couldn't find the "drugs" and there was still suspicion then the girl should have received a warning or possibly a suspension.
This whole thing pisses me off. And I have no tolerance for drugs believe me, but this girl did not deserve this at all. Especially since she had never been in trouble before.
This school botched this up royally.
The school screwed up on this one. They had no right to do that to her.
some educator was not thinking that day. Hope they were fired!!
At our school when another child tells me that they know some one has medicine, I simply go an talk with that child. If needed I know the school will call parents to remind them that we are willing to give thier child medicine if needed. We simply need written permission or a verbal permission at the time of giving it. Which we have done over the phone.
The school in question could have handled it so much better than they did. Simply contacting the parents would have been a good place to start.
That was ridiculous! I think they went way over the edge and should not have strip searched her. I am glad they took it to the Supreme Court. Crazy!!
A few years back there was a "prom" search where the goal was to check and see if the young women entering the school gym were wearing thongs or appropriate underwear. Want to go to Prom? Show the staff your knickers!
The trouble with this kind of treatment is that it begins with something small like school uniforms or the parental acceptance of the removing of school lockers because five or six kids were caught with pot, alcohol, or guns in them. Instead of dealing with dress code or the five or six rebels, parents and school boards decide to punish EVERYONE. Take away everyone's rights and we'll all be safe.
Does this remind anyone of our constitutional rights that were stripped away because of a small percentage of the population? The reply is always "If you have nothing to hide it's ok to tap a phone, search your luggage, search your daughter's underwear."
The trouble is, that innocent people ALWAYS are getting caught in the trap, while the guilty are still hanging out at school or in a cave elsewhere.
Let's get back to the point where we fix the problem. Get the troubled kids help, get the trouble makers out, and for heaven's sake, how 'bout we trade a little Tylenol for those scrips to the abortion clinic, which btw, do not need ma and pa's nod, nor are they illegal.
And as a very sad P.S.
Mom and Dad: Are you aware that your under aged child may be brought into the school's office and questioned FOR ANY REASON without notifying you first?
A person I know who has a blood disorder was presumed abused by her parents when she was in 5th grade. She was brought into the office one morning at 7:35 as school started and questioned until 3:00 when her mother was arrested on the spot and all other children were removed from the home for three days until doctors could prove the little girl's bruising was from her medical condition. It took over 6 years of therapy to undo what those questions did to that little girl.
Again, heads up ma and pa, your kid has ZERO rights.
My children are taught that no one has the right to touch them or look at them with out clothing on. No one!
That said, I think this child's life is being ruined by dwelling on the past and constantly bringing it up. It's over, it happened, it's not still hurting her unless she lets it. I pray for peace and the ability to let go of the story of the experience so that the lesson can be learned and the joy of life, lived in each beautiful moment, restored for this girl.
Loved S'Mee's comments.
Great idea for a post.
great comments here. I totally agree, why weren't the parents called..I'd have been all over the admin that day.... totally uncalled for.
My sister got suspended for chewing gum, but that was back in the 90's
sad ,really... we are all of kilter in our society today blah
I agree completely with everything that SO said, except I don't believe she should have had suspension as a threat. Someone who is innocent shouldn't be suspended.
This was beyond poorly handled. I have 6 children ranging from 5 to 15 & I would have done the same thing...sued (even though I normally wouldn't sue for a lot of things others would). I would also do what SO suggested & go after the principal, nurse & the assistants for sexual abuse. I cannot imagine one of my children having to go through this & would do all I needed to do to protect them.
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