Preview

Random Locker Searches Without Student Permission Essay Example

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
986 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Random Locker Searches Without Student Permission Essay Example
Random Locker Searches without Student Permission

Searching of lockers by any education staff is not a pleasant experience for either party involved. In fact it would be one less item to think about if schools were to remove them. In today’s high technology driven world we may even be able to get rid of them all together. Just a thought on how to save money! No lockers? Some may still want them to store their personal items along with books (we are going to CD’s rather than books). This would also cut down on carrying the overstuffed backpacks, purses, and PE clothes that we may have to change into.
The reason we once felt safe about our children at the educational setting was because they were there to learn the curriculum, make friends, and eventually become productive individuals upon graduation. Today though there are concerns about student safety due to drugs, weapons, and bullying. The once safe school house is no longer as safe as it once was years ago. There are resource officers at most middle schools and high schools that are permanent fixtures which in my opinion is something that young adults should not be introduced to at this young an age. The times have changed and so has education, the teacher’s responsibilities-what they can and cannot do, and the students as a whole.
So should a teacher have the right to search a student’s locker at random without their acknowledgement? We have to look at the Fourth Amendment- which allows people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The question then needs to be asked, “Does the search and seizure restrictions apply in the public education environment”? This is an interesting question as we must delve deeper into the types of; or restrictions if any that may apply.
There have been numerous locker searches at the public school level that have come before a judge in the courtroom. The schools look at the possibility to search a student locker

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    After this discovery he continued to search the purse thoroughly and found some marijuana, a pipe, plastic bags, money, an index card containing a list of students who owed TLO money, and two letters that signaled her in marijuana dealing. So everything being discovered now will be used against her in court. After the discovering of these items in TLO purse she was taken to the Juvenile Court and received delinquency charges which,in court TLO tried to say that her 4th Amendment was violated but the court said the search conducted by the Vice Principal was reasonable because TLO was a delinquent. On the contrary The Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court came to the conclusion that there was a Fourth Amendment violation. The New Jersey Supreme Court said, holding that the search of the purse was unreasonable. She was sentenced to one year probation and brought up on charges by the local authorities. Though the Supreme Court did not say that the Fourth Amendment did not apply to students. The Fourth Amendment states that a search and seizure cannot be lawfully conducted without a warrant or probable cause. However, in a school setting, a search is considered to be reasonable and within the constraints of the Fourth Amendment if there is reasonable suspicion…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Fourth Amendment states that “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”. But, does this Amendment apply to students in the public school systems?…

    • 726 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A lot of schools are installing security systems where you have to buzz in and the front desk worker has to unlock the doors. Schools have also built glass dividers blocking hallways to classrooms. It adds an extra layer of protection if a shooter entered the school. Some schools even have armed staff and faculty. Student Resource Officers are assigned to certain school to watch over it and protect every one. They can look at the cameras to see if there's anything suspicious going on. Some schools have upgraded their playground fencing so people can't get in. Those were some of the things that schools are doing to make it safer (Schools Tighten Security After Sandy Hook…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    An example of a search subject to the demands of the 4th amendment is a state-compelled collection and testing of urine, including the requirements of the Student Athlete Drug Policy, which was determined by the Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives’ Association 1989 (11). By the case New Jersey v. T.L.O. 1985, the State’s power, in public schools, is tutelary and custodial over students. This allows a higher degree of supervision and control that other…

    • 1137 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Random Locker Searchs

    • 245 Words
    • 1 Page

    First and foremost, irregular locker searches help to reduce violence and drug use in schools. Randomized locker searches help to find any weapons or drugs being hidden by student in lockers. THe searches can help to save lives, if there is a weapon found. If it is suspected that the student id breaking a law, or even school rule, a locker search may be carried out to see if the allegations are true.…

    • 245 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Random Locker Searches

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Although conducting random locker searches are beneficial in exceptional and deficient ways, many citizens will disagree with being able to have locker searches. Conducting locker searches could also help detect illegal substances and weapons, used for bullying or even to seriously injure a peer. On the other hand, locker searches violates privacy.…

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    2. When should a school employee have the right to search you or your belongings?…

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division affirmed the denial of the request to suppress evidence. The New Jersey Supreme Court then reversed the decision and ruled that the exclusionary rule of the Fourth Amendment applies to the searches and seizures made by school officials. The case then went to the United States Supreme Court. The first thing the U.S Supreme Court did was ordered to rehear the argument about the question of whether the assistant principal violated the Fourth Amendment in T.L.O’s case. After rehearing the argument the court in a 6-3 decision written by Justice Byron R. White ruled that the search of T.L.O’s purse was reasonable under the circumstances. They stated that even though the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizure also applied to public school officials, they may conduct reasonable searches of students with proper authority and probable…

    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Students could start purloin other people's possessions, start pickpocketing, and start going through other people's merchandise. All of this theft needs to be stopped and that is why locker searches are very imperative to our schools.…

    • 252 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although there are many schools that does do locker searches, other schools don't do locker searches. There are some schools that have found materials in lockers that others are not supposed to have at school. Also there are many schools that don't do locker searches that should.…

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    All though the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. consitition " the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures (Ehlenberger 1)". School officials do not need probable cause or a warrant to search students, a public school is a place that should foster an environment that is safe and free from criminal activity. Drug dogs search ensures a protected student body and are only minimally invasive. Resource officers, teachers, and administartion with experience in this practice of drug searches often discover many complications with condoning the searches. First, officers need to have a reason to search for drugs.…

    • 845 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The purpose of this paper is assess the limits search and seizure in public schools, apply specific ruling, analyze the New Jersey v. T.L.O. case and explain, recommend changes to existing (specific) laws to create a fairer educational setting in terms of search and seizure and peer review. School officials are responsible for providing a safe and orderly school environment. The officials are required to address disrupting or unsafe behavior that violate school policy and rules. It may require searching of students and their belongings. Dealing with disrupted behavior is a difficult situation that requires decision-making on when, where and how to conduct a search and seizure. My assess limit search and seizure is on hunch or just general search. School officials must have reasonable or proper cause to search.…

    • 2085 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Teachers and administrators should be allowed to search students’ lockers because being able to search lockers creates a safer learning environment. According to opinions on the website “Debate.org”, 51% of the people who voted believe that teachers and administrators should be allowed to search lockers. Although searching students’ lockers may be against the fourth amendment ( “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Without a safe educational environment, the attainment of knowledge is difficult to achieve. As Michael Ferraraccio said, "If schools cannot operate in a violence-free atmosphere, then education will suffer, a result which ultimately threatens the well being of everyone." An infringement of a student's civil liberties is required to be able to maintain a safe and enjoyable learning atmosphere for both the students and the faculty. When a student does not feel secure in their learning area, they are often distracted and unable to focus. For example, a student cannot possibly…

    • 539 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although students do not lose their rights as they walk through the school gates, their rights are restricted for the safety of others. The court case of Tinker v. Des Moines argues the same issue of the rights of students while on school grounds. “Because the appearance of the armbands distracted students from their work, they detracted from the ability of the school officials to perform their duties, so the school district was well within its rights to discipline the students” (OYEZ). As the armbands distracted students, the inappropriate photos of Suzie distracted upperclassmen from their educational work, which also put Suzie in an uncomfortable position depriving herself the ability to focus 100% on school work. Therefore, the principal was taking away a distraction to discipline the students which can be compared to the case of Tinker v. Des…

    • 807 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays