Over the last year and a half we've blogged about a deplorable situation where thirteen-year-old honors student was strip searched by a school secretary and a school nurse.
Various courts have ruled for and against the school. Now it is going to the United States Supreme Court, which will hear the case on April 21.
About six years ago an assistant principal suspected Savana Redding of having brought ibuprofen pills to school. Rather than let her off with a warning, or asking Savana's mother to deal with it, the Gestapo assistant principal ordered Savana strip searched. And it was done.
This is so outrageous. This alone is enough reason for me to homeschool my children. Many public school officials seem to think this is totally OK. Government schools shouldn't have any limits on what they can do or inflict on the children.
If you are interested in details you might read the New York Times's article: Strip-Search of Girl Tests Limit of School Policy. One judge clearer had her head on straight:
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Writing for the majority, Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw said, “It does not require a constitutional scholar to conclude that a nude search of a 13-year-old child is an invasion of constitutional rights.”
“More than that,” Judge Wardlaw added, “it is a violation of any known principle of human dignity.”
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I have trouble understanding where one of the dissenting judges is coming from:
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Judge Michael Daly Hawkins, dissenting, said the case was in some ways “a close call,” given the “humiliation and degradation” involved. But, Judge Hawkins concluded, “I do not think it was unreasonable for school officials, acting in good faith, to conduct the search in an effort to obviate a potential threat to the health and safety of their students.”
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I wonder if Judge Hawkins has children?
Poor Savana Redding did not return to school for months after she was strip searched, and eventually trasnferred to another school.
I wonder if the assistant principal, or secretary, or school nurse still have job? If it were up to me all three would be fired. They were way out of line.
(Hat tip: EducationNews)
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Technorati tags: government schools, children, public school, public education, homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, education
14 comments:
This is just the tip of the iceberg of reasons I homeschool. Deplorable!
Well, I couldn't even see why they'd have to do that for illegal drugs, even. That's what we have search warrants and stuff for!!
And you know, somebody's gonna say the school was acting in loco parentis. But, um, if Daddy strip-searches his 13-year-old, I'd find that a little inappropriate, you know??
Just like if I locked my six-year-old in the closet, that might be kinda bad? But here in the great state of Missouri, it's ok as long as the teacher is certified for them to do this in school to my child. Yeah. We homeschool at least the younger ones.
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This is outrageous, to think that over the counter Ibuprofen was such a threat as to conduct a strip search!?!
In the case of illegal drugs the police are called in. This is ridiculous to have school staff acting in that way, and worse, that a judge agrees it is okay.
I treat homeschooling a more convenient way to send my kids to school. They are taught there and like normal kids, hey also do their essay writing.
That is outrageous. Can you find another school to send your children to? Kids can go to any school you want them to. Take action in your community, get on the school board, gather parents together. There are many productive and helpful things you can do to help your children and the children of others in situations like this. Pulling a child out is a quick fix, but it doesn't solve the community's problem at the school. Be proactive instead of reactive.
Since when has Ibuprofen, a common over the counter substitute for aspirin, become "a potential threat to the health and safety of their students."
It reminds me of a sentence in this blog entry: "Adventures in Righty thought" http://www.2blowhards.com/archives/001256.html
"It's a given in lefty-ville that common sense is an awful, oppressive, misleading thing in need of relentless undermining; we have to dismantle it in order to be able to glimpse and participate in the Truth."
Bob
It was prescription Ibuprofen -- i.e., a stronger dose than over-the-counter -- and the administration had received word that a group of students were planning to take pills at lunch and that this girl was the source. Read the opinion. Clearly wasn't heroin, but it's also not quite what you make it out to be. Hence the "close case."
I've been thinking about the comment by "Writings of a Liberated Mind."
My wife and I are very proactive. We are active in politics. We've been on campaigns and vote in every election. We're active in our church. We give to charities. We are trying to make a difference. But we are not willing to let our children suffer until the day when public schools are fixed.
This particular school has had an issue with drugs in the school. Previously a student of the school was seriously ill after receiving a medication from another student in the school. The policy of this school is no prescrip. or over the counter drugs on students. If a student need to take a med, it must be administered through the nurse. Once the policy is set..they must follow through. Schools need to have the ability to make decisions. Sadly, our children are going to school with "dealers". A child dead or a child embarrassed. What is in the suit...the ACLU is suing on behave of the child..the personal assets of the principal. There is much more to this case. The brief is written according the law...previous cases through the courts. It will be interesting to see the outcome.
My children are homeschooled partially for this reason. The other reason being that whether or not you choose to acknowledge it school "officials" discriminate against the students they pick on.My daughter ws in kindergarten when she was taken down on the playground had her right arm dislocated, and was beaten in the back with her own shoes. She immediately went up to a teacher's aid and told her what happened instead of receiving help and medical attention she was sent back to class and told she was a tattle tale. When she got home she was taken straight to the pediatrician had to have her arm relocated into the socket and was out of school for 3 days on Doctor's order.I turned everything in and MY CHILD was labeled "truant". But the two girls who issued her beating were "lawyer's" kids so they were let go with a warning. So pardon me if I don't subject my child to be a punching bag while the "imperfect" public school system is fixed.
The anonymous post on the 21st of April had:
"Once the policy is set..they must follow through. Schools need to have the ability to make decisions."
I don't think this the fundamental issue for most people. It is reasonable for schools to have rules and to have consequences. My problem with this incident is the inappropriate response to strip search the poor girl.
If a school decides to deal with litter by saying we'll hae the offenders spend an hour clearning the grounds, that seems reasonable. If a school decides to whip a child, that would be an inappropriate response.
The issue is not should the school be able to respond to problems or potential problems. The issue is the assistant principal showed a clear lack of judgement. Strip searching a teenage girl to look for ibuprofen pills is wrong.
From the 22nd April anonymous comment:
"So pardon me if I don't subject my child to be a punching bag while the "imperfect" public school system is fixed."
It sounds like you are being a great parent. You have nothing to apologize for.
I am a 14 year old student in the 8th grade. I've been learning aboutthe ammendment rights of the citizens. When I heard about this case I decided to write about it one behalf of Savanna Redding side. Icannnot believe what they did to her. How humiliating!
My best wishes to Savanna Redding
A Washington Student attending a Public School.
That's what we have search warrants and stuff for!!In the case of illegal drugs the police are called in.
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