10 Young Students Strip-Searched in Texas

[Catherine Vincent]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050108/ap_on_re_us/school_strip_search_3

LA MARQUE, Texas - Ten students between the ages of 11 and 12 were strip-searched as officials at their charter school tried to find a missing $10 bill.

Seven girls and three boys at the Mainland Preparatory Academy were searched down to their underwear Thursday after one of the girls reported the money missing, said Principal Wilma Green. The money was not found.

"It's not illegal," La Marque Police Chief Richard Price said. "We don't see it as a criminal offense." But he said an investigation was underway.

The search angered at least one parent, who filed a complaint with police and pulled her four children out of the school.

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And I don't blame that parent that filed a complaint. I am really surprised the kids were okay with this. They shouldn't have to strip to prove their innocence.

[ogradda]

1. what if they'd found 10 bucks on 'em anyway?

i got $10 how do they know where i got it from?

[rockedthevoteinMA]

2. Huh?

Strip searching ten students between the ages of 11 and 12 for a friggin $10 bill - and it's not illegal?

:wtf:

[PartyPooper]

3. DU should have an "It Could Only Happen In Texas" forum.

This story would belong right at home there.

:eyes:

[Catherine Vincent]

5. No bashing Texas for this.

I'm in Texas. About a month ago my niece lost (or was stollen) 20 dollars while at school but all she did was go hom and tell her parents. But if she had told her teacher, I don't think the teacher would have given a damn about her 20 dollars...she would have told her to bring another one. My sister punished her daugher for not paying more attention with the money they gave her (it was for some book).

[vs the introvore]

16. i wanna say, it could only happen in 'catholic school' but...

it happened in 'preparatory school.' that sounds just about right for thing to come. prepare those kids for body cavities and specimines. what better way to trace the soul of the consumer.

[saigon68]

21. A Catholic School would have had the "PRIEST"

Do the Search

[Solly Mack]

4. This makes me very very angry

[MarianJack]

6. Welcome to Dubbya's 'Murican Values!

I'm soooo relieved that I'm safe from Janet Jackson's boobs, Nicolette Sheridan's towel and 'dem damm hummasechuls gittin' hitched!

[bluestateguy]

7. I really need to get out of this disgusting piece of shit state

Why oh why did President Tyler push for annexation of Texas?

[The Zanti Regent]

8. Another argument for secession

Let TexASS be TexASS.

The TexASS illegally in the White House killed my 19 year old son, my only child.

I want out of Jesusland!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. I'm so sorry...

I have two boys...17 and 6. I can't imagine the horror of losing one of them.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. There's something seriously wrong with kids who don't complain

about this kind of treatment. What other kinds of abuse have they been subjected to? What's the punishment for complaining? Are they discouraged from developing self-esteem and dignity?

And how much was the police chief paid to answer in that fashion? I smell serious Texas bullshit.

[Lenape85]

11. Only in Jesusland

[NVMojo]

12. horny right wing perverts ...

the adults ...

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. It's not illegal????

This happened in my school district two years ago. A class of 3rd graders was strip searched to look for $5 stolen from the lunch money box. The story was all over the press for weeks. Some of you may remember it.

There were two teachers involved. One of them was fired, the other was allowed to retire a month early. And the principal, who wasn't even in the building when this happened, was fired. Both teachers were charged with child abuse.

Lawsuits are still pending. The district settled out of court but last I heard the parents were trying to go after the retired teacher's pension.

[sendero]

23. Child abuse...

... that is exactly what I was thinking. I'd get a barracuda civil lawyer and make those who did this sorry they ever got out of bed that day.

Stripping an 11/12 year old. Sounds like pedophilia to me.

[roguevalley]

14. what is going on with Texas?!

[wickerwoman]

15. Is it a coincidence that this was a charter school?

What kind of review and regulation are these places under? Yet another reason school vouchers are a horrible, horrible idea. At least in public schools there's some accountability.

As to whether the kids would be okay with it, it doesn't surprise me. Teachers and adults in general are gods to most kids. They'll test the waters but if an adult says something to them in a certain tone, they'll do it. It's instinctual. When I was ten, I would have been embarrassed as hell, but I would have done what the teacher told me (and then never gone back to that school.)

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

18. Yes, use the right tone of voice

and things happen...I coach soccer, and the kids know the difference between me talking and ME BARKING...

And always, always, the parents are invited (and usually do) listen in on the conversation...

Before I get flamed, BARKING doesn't have anything with abuse, it has EVERYTHING to make sure that the kids hear you...

The thing is, BARK and PRAISE the kids...no child needs to hear criticism from a youth coach...

[njdemocrat106]

17. This disgusts me

The rights of kids in this country is just a prototype of what rights the conservatives want to give us in the future.

[Dark_Seph]

19. This much for 10$ What if it was 20$!?

Bet you would have a free anal cavity search if it was 20$, What has it come to!

10$, and seven students are scared for there own life, I would imagine it is possible that stuff like this would spark anti-police violence.

Good way to turn our youth completely anti-government.

[Niche]

20. This is how we settle things now. No debate, no one trusts anyone

let's just treat our kids the way we treat prisoners... strip search, some humiliation. Why didn't they just talk to these kids? So much paranoia not taking the kid's words for it... weird f*ckin' place, weird sick times, ahhhh.

[xchrom]

22. whaaaat?

sigh -- this is bizarre.
what kind of corner have we turned here?

[Moderator]

24. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1131394