Should schools search students' cell phones

[ShyGuyInChicago]

A school district in Washington State is considering this. do you think it violates privacy or this a situation where privacy can't be respected? Some also say that it could deter sexting.

[Sith Lord 13]

Hell no. This crosses way too many lines. Unreasonable search and seizure.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

OAK HARBOR, Wash. -- Should your children be subject to a cell phone search?

The Oak Harbor School District thinks so.

The district, citing a new state legislation requiring school districts to toughen up on cyber bullying and sexting, wants to add electronic devices to the list of items teachers and administrators can search on campus.

The move would allow school administrators to review anything in a student's cell phone, including text messages, pictures and videos. School officials see it as a proactive approach to keep students safe, but some parents and students aren't so sure.

"I think it's not really fair, and it's a complete invasion of privacy," said sophomore Dylan Bartlett.

"I look through my daughter's phone, but I pay for it. I bought it for her," said parent Nicole Taylor.

School superintendent Rick Schulte says school officials aren't taking over a parental duty, but rather teaming up with the parents to keep students safe.

"You know, parents are a major part of it. Our first contact would be with parents," he said. "That's the point of the policy is to give us a role in that."

Schulte says the new rule would also protect principals who intercept inappropriate cell phone images or texts.

In 2008 Northshore School officials suspended two cheerleaders after nude pictures of them taken on a cell phone were sent to the football team. The girls' parents then sued the district and child pornography charges were brought against them.

"But even short of crime, it can be something not only uncomfortable but bullying and harassing of students, and we want to prevent that,' said Schulte.

School board members unanimously passed a first reading of the new cell phone policy. It is still subject to final approval by the school board at the end of the month.
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/100809309.html

[Amnesiac]

That's ridiculous. It's a privacy and free speech violation, and most federal courts would see it that way. Schools can't legally monitor our Facebook profiles, so they can't "search" our cell phones.

If nude pictures of somebody are passed around, it's what they get for sexting. Prevention should be up to parents, not government-funded schools.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

According to the school, they will only do it when there is reasonable suspicion that cell phones are being used to break rules. And is this any different from searching lockers bookbags and purses?

[Fruit_Tart.]

i dont think that schools have to search for anything except for drugs and shit like that. but if it's personal like a book or a phone or something schools shouldn't have any authority in that shit. and if they need to be searched then call the fucking authorities like cops and people like that.

[Amnesiac]

According to the school, they will only do it when there is reasonable suspicion that cell phones are being used to break rules. And is this any different from searching lockers bookbags and purses?

Lockers are school property, and bookbags are used to transport school materials. They don't carry any personal information. I don't believe purses should be searched unless there is reasonable suspicion that there is something illegal in there.

I actually believe schools should have to obtain some kind of warrant before searching any student's possessions (unless if it's in a locker). If school is going to remain mandatory to attend, students must have a right to privacy similar to what adults have.

[Perseus]

I don't think so. It's invading their privacy. I can't think of what else I was going to say.

[Azunite]

Lol you people are lucky : In our schools cell phones are strictly forbidden and they confiscate any cell phones they find. You can bring them to school but you must give them to the assistant principal and you can then take them at the end of the day.
Well it was also prohibited for us to bring MP3, PSP and Gameboys to our schools but nobody listened to it and it is free to bring them now :D

[Amnesiac]

Lol you people are lucky : In our schools cell phones are strictly forbidden and they confiscate any cell phones they find. You can bring them to school but you must give them to the assistant principal and you can then take them at the end of the day.
Well it was also prohibited for us to bring MP3, PSP and Gameboys to our schools but nobody listened to it and it is free to bring them now :D

Here in the US they confiscate phones if they see them. Which means if your phone falls out of your pocket, they'll take it and you have to pay $25 to get it back, which is absurd to say the least.

[Perseus]

Here in the US they confiscate phones if they see them. Which means if your phone falls out of your pocket, they'll take it and you have to pay $25 to get it back, which is absurd to say the least.

Most teachers at my school don't take them up automatically, and we don't have a fine to pay. Most teachers will be like "put your phone away".

[Fruit_Tart.]

in the US? at my school they allow us to text/talk on our phones on our free time same with our iPods or MP3s.

[Amnesiac]

in the US? at my school they allow us to text/talk on our phones on our free time same with our iPods or MP3s.

Most teachers at my school don't take them up automatically, and we don't have a fine to pay. Most teachers will be like "put your phone away".

Okay, in my annoying school district. They actually take your phone and ship it off to the district's police department, where it's kept until you go there and pick it up. It's an incredibly retarded system.

[Perseus]

Okay, in my annoying school district. They actually take your phone and ship it off to the district's police department, where it's kept until you go there and pick it up. It's an incredibly retarded system.

Lol, the worst they can do at my school is take it to the principal's office and your parents have to come pick it up.

[Amnesiac]

Lol, the worst they can do at my school is take it to the principal's office and your parents have to come pick it up.

Well here they treat it as if it were a grenade or something. It doesn't help that the police department keeps moving and nobody knows where the hell it is.

[Fruit_Tart.]

Okay, in my annoying school district. They actually take your phone and ship it off to the district's police department, where it's kept until you go there and pick it up. It's an incredibly retarded system.
that's fucked up. i would be so fucking pissed and sue 'em right off the bat. im sorry dude. :*( that sucks. o.o

[Jess]

absolutely not. invasion of privacy, as everyone else said

as for cellphones in my school, you're not allowed to have it out during class. But I still see people texting behind their friends' backs and stuff.

Lol, the worst they can do at my school is take it to the principal's office and your parents have to come pick it up.

same here I believe

Okay, in my annoying school district. They actually take your phone and ship it off to the district's police department, where it's kept until you go there and pick it up. It's an incredibly retarded system.

seriously? Sent to the district's POLICE department? wow >_>

[Amnesiac]

seriously? Sent to the district's POLICE department? wow >_>

Yeah, I know, like it's a weapon or something.

that's fucked up. i would be so fucking pissed and sue 'em right off the bat. im sorry dude. :*( that sucks. o.o

Nah, it's never happened to me 'cuz I don't carry my phone around in my pocket, but it's happened to plenty of other people.

[Fruit_Tart.]

ah... well im still in disbelief at what schools do to their students stuff. that sucks. i mean really sucks. students should have a say on what goes on in their own schools and just like a democracy and be able to vote for what they get/got. but then again the "learning environment" can't handle much distractions and maybe SOME schools should enforce things like that. but still... invasion of privacy... o.O

[huginnmuninn]

if youre forced to go to school then why should they be able to invade your privacy

[Jenna.]

Hell no. This crosses way too many lines. Unreasonable search and seizure.

This. It's definitely a major invasion of privacy.

[HillBillyWilly]

Yeah all that happens in my school is your phone gets taken away and you're parents have to come and pick it up..

I usually dont have it out, and i've never been caught, since i try to make sure that teachers cant see my phone in my pocket. I don't thnk that any teachers care much about if it's in my pocket or not, even though the school dsictrict says that "All electronics must be turned off and in your locker."

Also, if it's in your locker, whats the point of turning it off? if it goes off between classes i dont think it will be noticed, and students can stil turn thier phones back on and shoot off a few texts in 5 minutes

[BOBBY HILL]

you shouldnt be using your cellphones in school

school is for learning

[Amnesiac]

you shouldnt be using your cellphones in school

school is for learning

So? That doesn't mean schools should have the right to invade your privacy and look through all your personal messages that have no relation to school.

Why can't it be as simple as "put your phone away"? "Oh no, give me your phone, we need to send it to the police department where all your text messages and voicemail will be analyzed for 'inappropriate behavior'!"

[Zephyr]

Telling people to turn them off during class or taking them away when they're being used is one thing, that's a matter of respect. But I think that they don't have a right to invade your privacy unless they have good reason to suspect that you may be a danger to others at the school. That being said, if they want to start doing that, they need to put in a policy in the student handbook that they have you and your parents read and sign to show that you understand. As bad as sexting is, they don't pay for the phone service, so it's not their phone to go through. Punishment for sexting needs to be a parent's territory since it can be a very sensitive area.

[Tiberius]

Can't fucking argue with the Constitution.
U.S Bill of Rights Amendment IV

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.

That says it all. It's a personal effect and therefore a school official, even with a warrant, has no right to search a person's cell phone since they are not a law enforcement officer.

[Amnesiac]

Can't fucking argue with the Constitution.


That says it all. It's a personal effect and therefore a school official, even with a warrant, has no right to search a person's cell phone since they are not a law enforcement officer.

Unfortunately, the government tends to skew the Constitution when it comes to people under 18. There's a common belief among adults that underage people don't deserve or have the same rights as them.

It always ends up being the Supreme Court that saves our asses.

[Jess]

you shouldnt be using your cellphones in school

school is for learning

that's true but as TheDarthEgg said, schools have no right to go into your cellphone...