Hot on HuffPost Parents:
North Dakota Yoga Teacher Marries Herself
Erin Mantz: I Want to Talk to My Kids About Etan Patz -- But I Don't…
Missing money leads to seventh grade strip-search
Filed under: Teens, Weird But True, Day Care & Education
Last week, when a student at Trinity Lutheran School in Monroe, Michigan found she was missing $42, the principal of the school assumed the money must have been stolen. Determined to find the thief, principal John Hilken ordered teachers to strip-search a group of 7th grade girls.According to one mom, this treatment was uncalled for and she and others have filed police complaints. "Some were taken down to their bra and panties and some had to pull their tops out and shake them," said Martha Feller, whose daughter was among the stripped and searched suspects. "They treat criminals like that, not 12-year-old innocent children," she said.
In hindsight, principal Hilken realizes that perhaps this wasn't the best way to handle the situation. He has apologized, but some parents feel this isn't enough. Martha Feller's daughter is so upset about it that she hasn't returned to school since the incident. "I hope that they will take them out of that school and make them pay for what they did to the children," Feller says.
I remember an incident in third grade that made me not want to return to school. After complaining to my teacher about an itchy chest, she unbuttoned my top to have a look. Right there in front of the whole class, she opened my shirt wide and examined my body. The fact that all these years later I can still vividly recall that humiliation is a testament to just how mortifying it was. I agree with Feller and think the principal owes more than an apology to these girls. Maybe he should be strip-searched to see if his compassion and common sense can be located.
| should be fired. No question. | |
|---|---|
| should have to pay restitution. | |
| should have to apologize. In his underwear. In front of the whole school. |
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
How Energy Efficiency Programs Save Schools Money - Audrey Parker
In Chapter 6 of 15, Audrey Parker helps schools save money by creating and implementing energy efficiency policy, communications, and programs to Texas schools.
-
Sheldon Richman on the Separation of School and State
Who likes the sound of a school bell? Sheldon Richman certainly doesn't. "Schools, by their structure, are preparing kids for some sort of authoritarian lifestyle" he says. Richman is critical of the school choice movement, saying that even in charter schools, money is still being provided by the state.
-
How to Save Money on School Equipment
Julia Scott offers you tips for saving money on equipment when going back to school.
-
More Money Doesn't Make Better Schools
Newark, New Jersey spends an astounding $23,141 per student. That money pays for a school system in which 40 percent of high school students pass a standard proficiency test. Why aren't Garden State taxpayers getting more for their money? To find out, Reason.tv sat down with Derrell Bradford, the founder and CEO of Excellent Education for Everyone (E3).
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 5 of 16)
10-08-2008 @ 10:28PM
isisaquaria said...The money could have been for a field trip, pictures, or any number of things. My 13yo has her own bank card, but most kids do not--so they carry cash for things--including lunch money.
Why does having money at school shock so many? Are so many on free lunch program-that money is not needed?
10-09-2008 @ 8:36PM
lynn said...It's not the fact that she had money, but if it were for any one of those things listed, that money should have been dealt with in "homeroom" or in the office first thing in the morning. Our students can go online and put money into lunch accounts, pay for field trips, that sort of thing. Unless they can prove responsible with money (and at this point I perhaps erroneously assumed the student had to have at least told one other person she had the money, or other items would have been taken) a little money would be okay, but $42.00? Parents, send a check.
10-08-2008 @ 8:32PM
Angie said...I've been teaching for several years now and stories like this make me thankful I teach where I teach. We all make mistakes, but mistakes like this CANNOT happen in schools. We cannot allow staff members or administrators to act this way.
Why in the world the teachers would actually perform the strip search is beyond me! I would report my administration in a heartbeat if they ever suggested we do something like this. The principal deserves to be fired and the teachers should at least be reprimanded, if not let go, as well.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 8:35PM
nocstreet said...Some people don't mind giving up all their rights as human beings, but I'm not one of those. I take my rights very serious, whether I'm innocent or guilty has nothing to do with it. If the school thought one or more of these children stole something, the parents get called first, then the police.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 8:42PM
heidi said...some children can be really bad due to their parents neglect, because children are not brought into the world bad. the school should have called the police and the parents to handle the situation. if it was my daughter i would have ripped them to shreds.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 8:44PM
rminott said...This was a voilation of Federal Law. It's a no-brainer! General searches without reasonable suspicion is against the law in ALL schools. Intrusive body searches are also a violation. Despite which side you take, the law is crystal clear. The searches of these girls violates constitutional law. Any recent law school graduate could win this case in 15 minutes.
Reply
10-12-2008 @ 7:45PM
Dennis said...rminott...Exactly what federal law would that be?
10-08-2008 @ 8:45PM
Cat said...I can't believe this I sure hope there will be a law suit! This is suppose to Lutheran School what in the world makes people tick these days? There are proper channels to take for these things!
If someone even dares to make my children do what this principal made these children do God will have to save his soul!
This principal needs to be fired ASAP and turned over to the police department as for sexual harassment on minors and never be able to work with kids again!
Reply
10-30-2008 @ 9:02PM
Rich said...I see nothing wrong with this except for some mothers who like to scream foul to the world. I don't think anything should be done. The school should back the principal. If they don't, they don't deserve to be a school.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 10:03PM
Cy said...Geeeez Rich what kind of school did you go to? A reform school in Russia. This is America, ever hear of innocent until proven guilty? I have raised my kids to have good morals and high ideals. They get great grades, are good athletes and are caring and responsible kids who volunteer in their community and church. And if they ever have the misfortune to be in a class where something is missing, NOBODY had EVER better be strip searching them! I don't care if the Principal's toilet paper is missing. In fact, I am going to make sure I tell them so tonight, that they should never accept such a violation of their person. The teachers had better call parents first! Something was misplaced in that school alright, it was good judgement and values, and as a parent I would not stand for my children being so disrespected.
10-08-2008 @ 8:50PM
jrj007 said...Perhaps this wasn't the best way for the situation to be handled, but if the kid who stole the money had turned themselves in, it wouldn't have happened. The search was handled with TWO female teachers in the room, NOT the principal, or any other male. Enough with the lawsuit talk already. You idiots will try to sue anybody for anything if you think you can get away with it. It wasn't the right way to handle this, but it's certainly not child abuse or sexual abuse. Give me a break.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 10:46PM
Natalie said...Actually it was a violation of their rights, and really it was child abuse. Forcing a child to take of their clothes even if it was in front of two teachers is abuse. It was not handled appropriately and the parents do have a right to sue. I do not care if the money was found on a child, this was an inappropriate way to handle it.
10-08-2008 @ 8:51PM
Princess said...Now WHY did a 12 year old have $42 at school??? To me that is just asking for trouble. Unfortunately, I think there are a LOT of dishonest kids today who WOULD steal if they had the chance. I totally disagree with how the Principal handled this. Someone made the comment that the money WAS found on one of the girls. Sandy Maple, the author of this story, did a shitty reporting job by not mentioning if the money had been found on one of the girls. This is another example of kids bullying other kids at school, which needs to stop. What should have happened is the Principal should have called the parents of each girl and had them come to the school to talk to their child about whether they took the money.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 8:52PM
christy said...Omg police are not allowed to search students for drugs but there
going to allow 12 year-olds to be strip searched, this is a sick situation someone needs to be held accountable for this.
It is disgusting when children are not safe even at school.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 8:51PM
JO said...OKay, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should children be strip searched by school officials, male or female. A police officer should have been called to deal with it and of course the parents should have been informed immediately. End of story.
As for the ones who think this is a life lesson that the kids should learn (ie: the thief should learn) because in the real world criminals are caught and punished..... hello......only one girl was a thief, why should they all be humiliated? The principal was probably in his office using a peep camera and beating off while watching all the girls get stripped down. Damn pedophiles are everywhere you know....
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 8:52PM
Scooter said...Um... Hello .. 7th Graders...The little tarts probably wear less than what they were forced to strip down to when they go shop(lifting) at the mall or out with their friends on a weekend night... So freekin' what...Ohhh a Bra and Panties...BFD.... Most of those girls' classmates (boys) have likely seen them in nothing.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 8:57PM
joanne said...I wonder how the parents of the child whose money was stolen would have felt if nothing had been done. I am a retired teacher and I would be willing to bet that those parents would have been in the principal's office the next day demanding to know why the principal hadn't found the money. A child shouldn't be allowed to bring that much money to school.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 9:35PM
Tracey said...No one said do nothing. And I agree w/ you about a lot of kids being brats. However, he ripped all the rights away from every one of those little girls. That is evil to me; he Caused harm..if he was intelligent he would known there were Several other alternative actions to what I would consider a mild form of raping. You are ripping a person's dignity away and shoving it down an innocent little girls throat; doesn't that mean anything to you?
10-08-2008 @ 9:00PM
Gnow Wutyerlike said...Why did the child have that much money at school?
Bet the principal was a Republican.
Reply
10-08-2008 @ 9:03PM
andrea said...Get over it. This is a classic case of - 'something' had to be done and if the parents would have been called in they all would have sided with their child.
There is no differance between a bathing suit and a bar and panty set. Am I the only one who sees that?
What is the real problem here? I think it's an underlying American insecurity with thier bodies. No other developed country in the world would even care. American parents need to chill out and let their kids see how the world really is.
Reply