Strip searched in TX school

Personally, I think this is just a massive violation, no one has the right to ask my child to undress so they can search them like that. Especially without my consent and knowledge. I cannot believe this is legal! It makes me wonder why it's ok for people to do this to children, when I doubt anyone would make their employees do the same in an office environment. So, schools are poorly staffed, unsafe, have low educational standards, and now strip searching. I am seriously beginning to see the advantages to home schooling.

By My2cuties on Saturday, January 8, 2005 - 02:04 am:

NO WAY...not my children, I would be one MAD parent. They would not want to see me walking into that school. I would have pulled my kids out too. that's horrible and very much a violation to my childs privacy, now if they called me, I could have came to the school and taken care of it to make sure my kids did not have a $10 bill.

So my child would have to get naked down to her underwear in front of a female teacher for $10!!! No way. And to top it off, be innocent. Sad world...homeschooling IS looking good.

Kind of odd how it was 7 girls and only 3 boys...an 11-12 year old girl is probably starting some type of puberty. SICK! I DO NOT agree with this at all. Surely ther has to be a better way to find out if someone stole money!!

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, January 8, 2005 - 07:49 am:

Amendment IV to the Constitution (the Bill of Rights): The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

In other words, no person can be searched without their permission or without a warrant.

The problem in this situation is that the children probably didn't know they could refuse, so there is no legal issue of a warrantless search unless one of the parents decides to sue on the theory that minor children cannot consent to a search and the school was lacking the parents' consent.

I do think it is outrageous. I also think it is outrageous that the police chief thinks there is nothing wrong with it, but then, the police are not (and should not be) constitutional lawyers.

If it were me and I knew that there was any likelihood of such a thing, I would send a letter to the school every year advising them that they do not have the right to interrogate or search my child without my consent AND presence. In fact, because the Philadelphia schools did not ban corporal punishment, every year I sent a letter to each of my sons' schools advising them that I withheld permission for corporal punishment for my sons.

By Yjja123 on Saturday, January 8, 2005 - 11:31 am:

Stories like this just reinforce our decision to homeschool. It just seems children are not safe at school. Every single week there are stories of abuse in the school systems. Why are they not correcting the problems? If my children were strip searched I would be livid. Wouldn't that need parental approval? Minors cannot consent to things can they?
How Horrible!

By Kaye on Saturday, January 8, 2005 - 11:49 am:

What is worse thatn this (i am miles from this school and am getting lots of coverage). One of the parents has complained, the police are looking into it. And on the news last night said he doubted they would find anything ILLEGAL, but they would investigate. I would have a lawyer by now and just be irrate. I have an almost 11 year old daughter. These girls were taken in one at a time to a restroom to be searched. They didn't even find the money. I wonder if they first girl that couldn't find her money lied!

By Conni on Saturday, January 8, 2005 - 06:13 pm:

Well, I am also apalled by this. First of all, apparently it was a student that lost $10. NOT a school official. It was ONLY $10---not $100.00, so give me a break!

When I was in 3rd grade a teacher lost her PAYCHECK (100's of dollars) off of her desk. They strip searched 3 classes of 3rd graders. My Mother was irrate. However, they did find the paycheck-- a boy in her class had stolen it. It didnt affect me to be searched. Atleast it was a significant amt of money that they were searching for.

$10.00 ??!! I just cant believe that! Ridiculous.

By Cocoabutter on Sunday, January 9, 2005 - 12:42 am:

When I was in school, (3rd or 4th grade) I lost a purse of money, probably $7 or $8 in small bills and change. I was told, "Tough, you should have taken better care of it." The teacher probably said that b/c he didn't believe that anyone had stolen it, and if I just looked a little harder, I might find it.

I did- the bus driver found it for me.

I might be a bit more forgiving in the case of the strip searches if they were looking for drugs or weapons, (tho as a parent I would still want to know about it) but all that fuss over $10...

What does that teach our kids about responsibility for taking care of their own property, and the values that we place on such things?