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Students rights in school are limited

Students+rights+in+school+are+limited

The rights of students on school grounds is a quite complicated topic. In general, whenever a student sets foot on campus, their first, second and fourth amendment rights are non-existent.
It makes absolute sense that the second amendment does not apply in schools; allowing firearms on school premises at this day in age poses unnecessary danger. However, school’s control over student’s first and fourth amendment rights are questionable to say the least.
Since the first amendment does not apply to students in school, rules such as dress code are deemed acceptable. For the most part, North Central’s dress code rules are quite valid, but not allowing leggings, sleep apparel (pajamas, slippers, etc.), sunglasses and hats is just absurd.
It may also be noted that if students complete any work in school while violating school dress code, the student handbook states that this work could only be counted for 75 percent maximum credit. If the whole point of these rules is to establish a suitable environment to learn, then why can students get their grades lowered just for their personal appearance on a given day? How a student dresses themselves has zero correlation to other’s education as well as their own. If anything, dress code keeps students out of the classroom rather than keeping them in.

According to North Central’s student handbook, any student is subject to a search under “reasonable suspicion”. What the handbook defines as reasonable suspicion is as follows: “Specific observations concerning the appearance, behavior, body odors, or speech of a student; information received by the principal or his designee from teachers, parents, students, employees, or detection devices (and/or) the past record of a student.” Now this is a very broad definition and it gives administrators just about any reason possible to search through a student’s personal belongings. There is something wrong with the rules when a student could be subject to a search just because another student supplies administrators with false information. Therefore, it is evident that student’s fourth amendment rights while on school grounds are absolutely meaningless.
More often than not, the question of a reasonable search and seizure applies when a student is under the suspicion of possessing a controlled substance. If a search is conducted and no actual drugs are found, but administrators discover a lighter in the student’s possession, it is considered enough probable cause to administer a drug test. However if no drugs are found, how can it be assumed that the lighter is for drug use? For all the administrators know, the student is quite fond of candles and incense. The point being that the administration is asserting their power into matters where it is quite unnecessary.

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