[AbbieB]

Anybody else hear this story on NPR today?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=103215199

The story is about the case before the supreme court today where a 13 year old girl was stripped search at school.

Having been a public school teacher, and hearing stories from my DH, who currently teaches in a public high school, I am not as shocked as one might think. But still!

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Add this to the very long list of reasons my children will not be going to public school.

What is really sad, is when I talked to my Mom about this story this morning, she told me I had nothing to worry about because I'm an involved and aware parent so this could never happen to my kids. My kids will know how to handle themselves and I will be able to trust the school officials that are in charge of MY kids. But isn't this just the the scary thing about the story? Didn't this parent have that trust?

 

[kiara7]

Quote:

In its brief, the school says the fact that Redding was an honors student who had never been in trouble before is not evidence of good conduct, but only evidence that she had never been caught.

Ridiculous! Who do these people think they are? Prison guards?

 

[fruitfulmomma]

So, because she was in a public school setting she loses her constitutional rights against illegal searches???

Yeah, my kids are never going there either.

 

[claddaghmom]

Our city is arguing over the use of padded rooms for mentally handicapped children.

 

[LittleBlessings]

 

[Equuskia]

So I guess not only do you have to make sure you opt out your kids so they don't get spanked/paddled in school, you also have to opt out of getting them strip searched.

Quote:

In its brief, the school says the fact that Redding was an honors student who had never been in trouble before is not evidence of good conduct, but only evidence that she had never been caught.

I guess none of us here are good people, we're just bad people that have never been caught.

 

[MaterBum]

It is a terrifying case. The interview I saw with the girl and her mother said that what pointed suspicion her way was another student pointing at her when that student was asked where she got the cigarette and pills (ibuprofen) in her hand. Did I write that in a way it can be followed? So, in other words, this student with no past history of misbehavior was strip searched because another student (the one with the contraband) pointed at her. First, they searched her backpack and found nothing. So you'd think that would make them think the other student was lying. But no, instead, they decided to strip search her to make sure she hadn't stashed it anywhere. Ridiculous.

I used to teach at a public high school. And I'd like to say this story completely surprises me, but it doesn't. Our district did a couple of police dog drug searches completely unannounced. They would take the dogs and let them run the parking lot, sniffing cars. Then, they would bring the dogs into the school, lock the doors, tell everyone to remain in the classrooms while the dogs ran and sniffed all the lockers. Then, they would bring the dogs into the classrooms and tell everyone to sit still and calm (yeah, right! these dogs are intimidating!) while the dogs sniffed up and down the aisles at backpacks and purses. If they caught a funny scent, those students were taken to the office. Who knows what all happened at that point. It is one of the reasons I left teaching. It turned my stomach to go through this treatment and to watch students go through it. Anyway...

Somehow in this country, we are letting fear of drugs take away a lot of freedom. I hope the SC rules against the use of such searches in a school.

 

[columbusmomma]

I was outraged after hearing that story this am. That should NEVER have happened.

 

[Dr.Worm]

I heard something like this on Dr. Phil a few months back..not sure if it was the same girl or another one

It is insane! Recently some money and other things were stolen at my dd's school. I asked her if anyone accused her of stealing them and she said no. I explained to her that sometimes schools tell kids to take off their clothes and search them for stolen things..and that she has the right to say NO, I WANT YOU TO CALL MY MOM! She is only in third grade but I am not taking any chances that it can't start in elementary school. I didn't want to scare her and I told her it was very unlikey to happen but I wanted her to understand that it's HER BODY and she NEVER has to agree to something like that. For this and many reasons, she may be doing cyberschool next year. This world is disgusting.

 

[Snuzzmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Equuskia So I guess not only do you have to make sure you opt out your kids so they don't get spanked/paddled in school, you also have to opt out of getting them strip searched. I guess none of us here are good people, we're just bad people that have never been caught.

Isn't that just the stupidest, most paranoid argument EVER?? If that's the best they've got, I think they'll get reamed in court. They should.

 

[angelpie545]

I hope there are riots in the streets if the Supreme Court sides with the school. I'd be extremely concerned if there were NONE. I can't imagine what kind of sick people think that this is justified. Certainly no one who should be within ten yards of a child.

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[SparklingGemini]

This is horrifying to me. So, so horrendous and scary.

Like others, this is just more fodder for my decision to homeschool.

The mental anguish something like this would have caused for me would have been unbearable. I feel for this poor, poor girl.

 

[Mama2Jesse]

Omigosh, I would pull my kid out of that school so fast! I've been hearing about this and am just disturbed on so many levels... man, I hope their attendance has plummeted since all this has come out.

That poor girl. She must feel so violated and afraid.

The persons responsible need to be charged and held accountable. Sick nasty perverts.

 

[SparklingGemini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Worm I heard something like this on Dr. Phil a few months back..not sure if it was the same girl or another one It is insane! Recently some money and other things were stolen at my dd's school. I asked her if anyone accused her of stealing them and she said no. I explained to her that sometimes schools tell kids to take off their clothes and search them for stolen things..and that she has the right to say NO, I WANT YOU TO CALL MY MOM! She is only in third grade but I am not taking any chances that it can't start in elementary school. I didn't want to scare her and I told her it was very unlikey to happen but I wanted her to understand that it's HER BODY and she NEVER has to agree to something like that. For this and many reasons, she may be doing cyberschool next year. This world is disgusting.

I just want to say that I think its wonderful that you've taken a proactive approach to education your DD on this type of a situation.

I commend you.

 

[Dr.Worm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparklingGemini I just want to say that I think its wonderful that you've taken a proactive approach to education your DD on this type of a situation. I commend you.

Oh thank you so much for that. I was afraid maybe I shouldn't have told her that so I really appreciate you telling me that.

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[LauraLoo]

From the article:

In its brief, the school says the fact that Redding was an honors student who had never been in trouble before is not evidence of good conduct, but only evidence that she had never been caught.

The school views itself as a protector of its students' health and safety, which includes protecting students from both illegal and over-the-counter drugs. From the school's viewpoint, any suspicion that a student possesses drugs may be justification for a strip search.

Essentially this school believes that you are guilty until proven innocent (and even then the girl wasn't allowed to go back to class,) and that the ends justify the means. Heck, even cops have to have something more to go on to do a search like this. And apparently the protection of "health" this school claims to protect doesn't extend to mental anguish.

This is truly horrible. I'd yank my kids out of this school faster than you can say "law suit."

 

[rightkindofme]

This makes me sick. This kind of [email protected] is why I will not ever put my kids in public schools. I was a public school teacher and this sort of attitude is pretty common.

 

[Storm Bride]

re: the "guilty until proven innocent" comments. I have to say that, as much as this story turns my stomach, the school is right on that point. There have always been plenty of "good" kids who are up to all kinds of crap behind the backs of their parents and teachers and who count on their good reps to protect them from even being under suspicion. Being an honour student, or never having been in trouble before, doesn't mean you're always on good behaviour. DS1 is a great kid, with a really good rep at school - but that doesn't mean he's never going to be tempted to get hammered with his friends or smoke a joint (I hope he doesn't, as his family background makes me very paranoid about drug use).

That said...it's no excuse for doing this - none at all. Just the fact that anybody thinks that ibuprofen is strip-search worthy disturbs me to no end. The fact that they did this to a school kid, with no probable cause (a random accusation from another student certainly doesn't qualify - wonder if school authorities have ever heard of a grudge?) is outrageous...absolutely outrageous. It terrifies me that they still seem to believe this was an acceptable course of action.

 

[LauraLoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storm Bride re: the "guilty until proven innocent" comments. I have to say that, as much as this story turns my stomach, the school is right on that point. There have always been plenty of "good" kids who are up to all kinds of crap behind the backs of their parents and teachers and who count on their good reps to protect them from even being under suspicion. Being an honour student, or never having been in trouble before, doesn't mean you're always on good behaviour.

Of course, there's always a first time for offenders and yes, even good kids can make mistakes. But the school went on another child's accusation as probable cause, they assumed that the girl was guilty and they just needed to catch her. Even when no evidence was found, the girl was retained from going back to class. That just reeks of witch hunting.

 

[Porcelain Interior]

I think if the offense is so bad that they are strip searching they really out to be calling the cops, not handling it at school. How violating.

I talked to my 13 year old today and I said, "If you are EVER in trouble at school they are to call me, and you are NEVER EVER to undress in front of anyone at school. They are NOT allowed to do that to you ever."

Now my kid is an honors student, as geeky and shy as can be, so I'm not feeling like drug dealing is in her future, but I wanted her to know that under no circumstances is the school allowed to circumvent me, or attempt to mentally/emotionally/physically assault my child's well being.

This is why I hate public school. We would homeschool, if my kids weren't so damn social.