Friday, February 4, 2011

Unreasonable Search?

According to Textually on Twitter a new Bill is currently being drafted that would give schools the power to search cell phones. See quote at "Under the proposed changes, heads will be able to search for telephones, as well as alcohol, drugs, weapons, pornography, stolen goods and other items banned by their school. The Bill says school will be allowed to search if they " 'reasonably suspect the item has been or is likely to be, used to commit an offense, or to cause personal injury to, or damage to the property of any person' ". I would like to propose this scenario to my GT students who are just beginning a unit using the Harlan Institute located at harlaninstitute.org. We are discussing the First Amendment rights pertaining to a case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, Snyder v. Phelps, which, if you don't know, is the Whitesboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. The WBC protest at fallen soldiers' funerals to protest the U.S. stance on gay rights. Constitution literacy is important to develop in our students. Whether it's examining the First Amendment or the Fourth Amendment, developing fundamental knowledge about our fundamental rights is a civic duty shared by you and me.

No comments: