Does A School Have The Right To Confiscate...

[Echo419]

During class today, web design class... I was saving my files to my flash drive, like i normally do... The teacher storms passed me and rips my flash drive out of the computer, writes a referall and sends it to the office...

Im already pissed because she knew I had it the whole year, the only reason she was mad is because this black kid across the room threw a keyboard... My teacher is racist and won't rite them up... So she takes it out on me.

Anyway, so after school I go to Student Services, I say firmly.. Mam I am here to get something back that was stolen, I tell her my name... She laughs and simply says have your mom come get it... Now the reason this is such a big deal is because i NEED it for work today, or I can't get it done..

After 30 minutes of searching for someone to listen to my problem, finally I just go back to student services, the lady now decides to walk down the hallway and get the principal to talk to me... He brings up all my past problems, and bla bla bla... Im pissed at this point, cussin him because he's disrespecting me not listening to a word I say..

He leaves the room, for like 5 minutes... I go to see what he's doing, and wow the guy is looking at the files on MY drive, without my consent, invading my privacy. I say sir, what you are doing is illegal and you do not have the right to look at anything on there without asking me... He then tells me, oh because of what you have on here (some stupid programs I use at friends houses) your in a lot of trouble. I said bull Blank, you can't press crap against me when you break the law to get to my stuff in the first place... he laughs and replies, haha yah let me see your law degree... I say shutup let me see yours, he's all look heres my business card have you mom call you... I rip it and through it in the floor... This is when all the other assistant principals get involved... after many cuss words I am escorted from the building...

[Tunaman]

Was "saving your files to the flash drive" a part of your normal activity/todays lesson?

[Miscue]

File a police report today or tomorrow. Do not wait. They are quick and easy to fill out. I personally view it as theft and they do not have the right to do that.

[Echo419]

For me yes, I save all my school files to my flash drive... She justifies this by saying it was in the class rules. I never recieved the class rules, as I was not here the first day of school.

[Tunaman]

Was there anything else on the flash drive that we should know about? Do you have a criminal record?

[stop whining buy a mag]

Cause problems for them. Make the principals life a living hell dealing with the legal crap. See if you can complain to the school board etc. File a police report like Miscue said and see if you can't get a little publicity on it.

Some of you are probably thinking that this is very bold and could come back to bite you in the @$$ but you were in the right. If I'm not mistaken, a law enforcement officer (someone with a badge) is the only one who can search you under those circumstances. I'd imagine a flash drive would be protected under that right so what your principal did was wrong.

[B.A.M.]

i took a you and the law class so i have a little knowlage but if it was your flash drive then they have no right to look in the files but they can sieze it since it is a school and they can do it. Like Miscue says file a police report and look up some laws but im pretty sure they can't search you property since its privet property and you didnt give consent and it wasnt a legal issue so no warrent obviously. I say stick it to the man.
BTW what was the program cuz i have a couple of live cd's for testing securtiy systems on comps that you use to hack in your own system to see how secure it is

[Echo419]

Will do, because there going to try to press me with possession of programs intended to dammage there stuff, which it wasnt... My employer, im making a website for them, is calling there lawyer tomorrow and seeing what can be done.

::edit:: Its not the fact that I had anything to hide... Its just the shear fact that he thinks he can get away with playing god in my school... Kids have put up with this guy too long.

[Miscue]

It's important to stress that you keep your school work on there in addition to actual work. Also... make sure they know that he examined the contents in addtion to confiscating it... that's garbage. I personally view it as perfectly legitimate... as legitimate as a calculator or a floppy disk (back in the day) that you save your school work on. Also note what it is worth.

There are certain things like pagers and cellphones where teachers can legally confiscate it... because the law says so in some areas. I cannot imagine that a flash drive would fall under this category... as it is neither a toy nor a nuissance item. It's a digital Trapper Keeper.

And remember... any "rule" including classroom rules that is not an actual law... is not an actual law.

[PyRo]

For me yes, I save all my school files to my flash drive... She justifies this by saying it was in the class rules. I never recieved the class rules, as I was not here the first day of school.

Ignorence of the law is not an excuse, the same goes for the school rules it's your responsibility to make yourself aware of them.

This sounds like a stupid thing that got out of hand. I have no idea of the legality of searchs and seizure by school faculty. Try and file a police report though, maybie you'll get somewhere with it, maybie the cops will laugh at you. Remember though the police arn't going to take your seriously, don't curse in front of them or you will loose what little respect they may have for you. Remember what you are getting into making implications of racism also.

[Miscue]

Ignorence of the law is not an excuse.

The classroom rule is irrelevant. Is it an actual law that they can do this? If not, then the item was illegally seized... and examined.

[Echo419]

Ehh, yes it is... But I dont even care about that... The fact is he can't look at my stuff without asking

[Miscue]

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051019/LOCAL/51019009/1078/news

[SpitFire1299]

At my school we can have those jump drive things. They come in handy. I COMPLETLEY understand your situation, this crap happens all the time at school.

Have you ever got in trouble before? Has the teacher ever told you to not bring the drive thing?

[PyRo]

The classroom rule is irrelevant. Is it an actual law that they can do this? If not, then the item was illegally seized... and examined.

Post edited, I figured I could finish editing it before four responses poped up.