Hannah Devore
Honaker 3rd
September
2009
Lockers: Should the Teachers Have the Keys?
CONS
PROS
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Lockers belong to the school, not the
students.
Teachers can find weapons, drugs,
stolen property, etc.
‘Young criminals’ are more likely to
hide weapons or drugs at school if they
know the teachers don’t search.
If the school does conduct random
searches, students may think twice
before bringing items to school.
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General searches can be conducted ‘without
probable cause’, contrary to the 4th
Amendment.
Many belongings could be extremely
embarrassing to the student, not illegal.
Families can sue the school if a student is
suspected without adequate reason.
If students know the school will search the
lockers, they may find another hiding spot or
keep things on their person.
STATS
http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=447
Written by Alex Deane
•100,000 students bring guns to school.
•160,000 students skip classes because they are afraid of physical harm.
•40 students are hurt or killed by firearms.
•6,250 teachers are threatened with bodily injuries.
•260 teachers are physically assaulted.
Do We Really Need To Let This Continue?
Every Day In The United States:
*name was made up. 
True Story.
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New Jersey v. Mary* was the first Supreme Court opinion to address the Fourth
Amendment rights of students in public schools. In 1980, Mary was found smoking in
the bathroom. She had been caught smoking with another girl. The other girl
admitted her guilt and was suspended. Mary denied smoking and the principal
searched her purse, finding a pack of cigarettes and rolling papers. He continued
thoroughly searching Mary’s purse and found marijuana, a pipe, plastic bags, a fairly
substantial amount of money, an index card containing a list of students who owed her
money, and two letters that involved her in marijuana dealing. The police and her
parents were notified and she later confessed at the police station. Although this case
defined the search of an individual’s bag and their Fourth Amendment right, it did not
go beyond the idea of a personal belonging’s search. The Supreme Court, in a New
Jersey case decided in the ‘90s, decided that school officials don't need a warrant or
probable cause, but only a “reasonable suspicion.”
Cites.
http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=447
Written by Alex Deane
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http://students.ed.uiuc.edu/jkelsey/surveillance/locker.htm
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