WTF???

So my blog is really going to take a wicked left turn. I saw a headline yesterday:

Student Strip Search Illegal
Supreme Court Rules Strip Search Violated 13-Year-Old Girl's Rights

Read it again. Seriously, this went all the way to the Supreme Court before it was finally determined that SCHOOL OFFICIALS aren't allowed to STRIP SEARCH a student without probable cause to believe that the student is hiding something that presents a danger to other students. I'm assuming something like a weapon Um, really?

This girl was STRIP SEARCHED like a common criminal because SCHOOL OFFICIALS thought she was hiding ibuprofen in her underwear. Ibuprofen in her underwear. Oh, the danger she may have presented by hiding ibuprofen in underwear. She was taken into a room, made to strip down, and then pawed by a school employee while she was menstruating. Remember, this is a 13 year old girl. 13 year old girls aren't exactly comfortable with the fact that their bodies leak blood once a month and add the insult of having some bitch poking around to find ibuprofen and it becomes beyond mortifying. Not to mention, who the hell would put ibuprofen planned for ingestion in underwear that is being bled into? Okay, I digress.

The reason for the obnoxious all caps is because the words kind of hit on the two main problems I have with this. First of all, strip searching a 13 year old for any reason other than a criminal behavior should never be an allowable action. Ever. 13 year olds are people, and they are citizens of the US and in the US, we are protected from unreasonable search and seizure by this thing called the Constitution, and though it may just be some old piece of paper to some people, to others it's kind of the code we live, and for which soldiers die, by in this country.

Second, strip searching by school officials should never, ever, ever be allowed. Not even for suspected criminal activity. It's why we have police officers, people specially trained and paid to deal with crime. School officials are paid and trained to EDUCATE (okay, don't laugh all you who know better). School isn't a prison (again, stop laughing, and you know who you are!!).

My children are homeschooled, and every damn day I read something in the newspaper that makes me thank the gods, the spirits, the universe and every other thankable being for it. Every day. My children will be treated like criminals by their parents who love them, not by cold, uncaring school officials who seem to have no problem stripping them into their underwear and groping them. At least now we have final word that it's not okay.