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Locker Searches in Middle
Schools
Links:
| "Random Searches of School Lockers
Ruled Unconstitutional", 1998
(http://www.enforcergraphics.f2s.com/sep98.htm) |
A closer look at when locker searches
can and cannot occur. Locker searches in middle schools do have
limitations. Locker searches must be reasonable, in that there
must be some sort of evidence that supports the suspicion. In
Re Adams and New Jersey vs. T.L.O. cases are explored.
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| "Model Policy on Searches of
Pupils’ Lockers and Locker Contents", 2000
(http://www.michigansafeschools.org/lockers.htm) |
This is a proposed policy
for the Michigan school districts. It is a great guide to help
middle schools as they develop their own locker search policy.
Contents include the legitimacy of school lockers, searches, and
seizure of locker contents. |
| "Students Rights Handbook: Locker
Searches"
(www.everett.k12.wa.us/families/handbook/3232.html) |
Random searches of student’s
lockers can occur. Students may not use lockers to keep items that
are against school policies. In the some searches of lockers, law
enforcement officials may be contacted. |
| "School Search Reference Guide
1999"
(www.wa.gov/ago/ourschool/2_search/AppendA.htm) |
Examined in the Washington
state supplement, are descriptions of how or why searches would
occur in schools. The types of searches include ones that middle
schools can use, such as locker searches and "body
cavity" searches. Rules are given for these searches, as well
as a definition of a "firearm", and penalties for having
such an object in a school. |
| "Searches"
(www.aclunc.org/students/guide/searches.html) |
A description of whether or
not teachers, principals or other school officials can search
students. Lockers are not the private property of middle school
students, but are property of the school. |
Books:
| Bonilla, D.M. (Ed.). (2000). School
Violence, 72. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company. |
This is an easy to read book containing
several articles and excerpts from books about violence in
American schools. All of these articles were written by different
people, from different states, from different points of views,
offering suggestions as to why, what, and now what, towards
violence and safety in schools. Articles discuss who is to blame
for this violence, descriptions of some of the nation’s worst
violent acts in schools, as well as what officials are doing now
in response to these acts. Articles also discuss preparing for
those critical moments, zero tolerance, and school safety
standards. Every school, elementary through college, should have
and implement school standards to ensure the safety of every
student. |
| Ehlenberger, K. R. (2001-2002). The
Right to Search Students. Education Leadership, 59, 31-35. |
This article addresses issues on the
validity of searches, when can middle school students, their
property, or lockers be searched, and what type of search can
occur. It also provides that under the Fourth Amendment students
in public schools have the right to be free from unreasonable
searches; but, while the students are in the middle school, this
right is reduced due to the fact that schools do need to maintain
a safe atmosphere. However, school officials do need to have
reasonable grounds for which the search will occur, as well as
that the search is related to the objectives of the search. This
article also provides evidence from other court rulings where
searches have and have not been allowed. For law enforcement
officials who do come into middle schools, they need to have
probable cause as to why the search should occur, and why that
particular student is the one who will be searched; whereas school
officials need reasonable suspicion. This article elaborated on
the fact that most of the search policies that are effective in
schools are those that are developed by the entire community, not
just the school officials and police department. By having these
policies, middle schools can better determine what searches are
legal and illegal, what types of searches can occur and when, so
that an understanding from the entire school community is reached,
and problems will not arise later. |
| Elliot, D.S., Hamburg, B.A., Williams,
K.R., (Ed.’s). (1998). Violence in American Schools: A New
Perspective. New York: Cambridge University Press. |
This is a book that relates school
violence to factors inside and outside of the school, as well as
preventative methods that can be taken in and out of the school.
Several reasons as to why violence occurs in middle schools are
discussed. This book goes into detail about what exactly is
violence among youth, as well as the types of training school
officials need to be getting in order to effectively reduce the
occurrence of violence in middle schools. |
| Erb, T. (2000, May). Interview with
Gerald Bourgeois: Voice of Experience on School Safety. Middle
School Journal, 5-11. |
In this article, aspects of a safe
middle school are described, as well as suggestions for middle
schools to help them create safe school environments. From this
article, a typical safe school is one that is not only safe from
physical harm, but also has a positive environment from which the
students can truly learn. In schools such as this, students feel
safe when they go to school, and they feel comfortable with at
least 1 adult at the school in whom they can confide. Also in
these schools are high expectations for all students so that all
students can become successful academically and socially. By being
successful in these 2 very key aspects of middle school student’s
lives, the chances of infractions upon the safety of a school are
decreased. Most importantly, schools need to utilize the community
when implementing programs to promote safety. |
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