Strip search - Boo! Hiss! - Brief Article

Girls' Life, August-Sept, 2002

Even if your Granny's OK with your panties, your school administration might have a huge problem with 'em. Female students' rights at Rancho Bernardo High School in Poway. Calif., wee violated when their vice principal allegedly made girls line up before a school dance, asking them to lift their skirts-in front of boys-so she could make sure they weren't wearing thongs.

Girls in thongs were sent home. While there's no policy against thongs in the school's dress code, at the previous year's cance a student flashed her thong on the dance floor. But does that warrant a schoolwide strip search? Heck, no! One thong doesn't make a right, and that's why the vice principal was placed on leave. But this is not an isolated incident. A principal in Adrian, Mo., supposedly ordered the stripdown of a fourth-grade class after a show-and-tell war medal turned up missing. The principal made the boys drop trou in the cathroom, while a female teacher patted the girls down. After the mdedal was found on the floor, the kids were bought soda as a consolation prize. Was that supposed to make the embarrassment all better? Schools in Michigan and Virginia have also forced students to disrobe after money was stolen. If a school administrator (or anyone!) asks you to remove your clothes, tell a parent immediately. Your rights have been violated.