???For many teenagers, trust has been a notoriously complicated subject. As teens hit adolescence, many changes occur throughout their bodies and minds. In some cases, the smallest problems can escalate into something far worse.
???But what happens when a teen's trust is violated?
???For Savanna Redding, an honors student at Safford High School in Arizona, her trust was violated six years ago. In an effort to adhere to her school's anti-drug policy, school administrators strip-searched Redding after being told that she was in possession of prescription drugs. Female officials made her pull out her bra and move it side to side, uncover her legs and even pull off her underwear.
???All of this was based on an assumption of probable cause.
???Six years later, the issues of how much leeway school officials have in terms of drug and violence policy now face the Supreme Court.
The Court has the tremendous responsibility of setting the guidelines for schools around the nation on the issue of searching its student body.
???Many schools conduct searches and seizures around the time of Halloween, looking for eggs, shaving cream and other paraphernalia, which is completely justifiable. However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that the nude search of a 13-year-old girl is an invasion of constitutional rights.
???Stripping a young person of her dignity at such a vital age of development is severely detrimental.
???School administrators are paid to provide a safe environment. If they want to stop weapons and other contraband from crossing their schools, there is no problem present. The issue is when they take that responsibility beyond their threshold.
???These actions led to humiliation and a violation of human dignity. To make matters worse, the court found that the school had no justification to believe that she had been carrying pills anywhere that the search would reveal.
???Safford High's lawyers argued that abuse of over-the-counter and prescription drugs are on the rise in 12 to 13 year-old children. They also take the view that the search was not excessive in light of the supposed infraction.
???Maybe they fail to realize the emotional damage this act can cause. Redding didn't return to school for several months and ultimately wound up transferring to another school.
???School administrators are not experts in the field. If they see just cause to conduct such a search for weapons or drugs, call the professionals and let them handle it. They are not officers of the law; they are responsible for educating our youth.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
