<p>There is no enumerated “right of privacy” in the Constitution. There is a clear right to “be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”</p>
<p>I don’t know how public schools get away with searching the persons and personal effects of students without violating the 4th Amendment. I understand that lockers are the property of the school and subject to search, though, and this doesn’t bother me much. I would love to hear from a Constitutional lawyer on how they get away with personal searches.</p>
<p>Just guessing here, but if the student were asked to roll up his/her sleeves, or lift up a pant leg, he/she may have been too intimidated to disobey, but the “searcher” never put a hand on them, and the display would be considered “voluntary”. I think the OP said it was done on the football field or some such, outside, with witnesses? I still feel it would be an inappropriate use of authority. </p>
<p>Compulsory education is, I think, to age 16? After that, attending public school is considered a priviledge, so complying with rules would be part of the deal. As much as I hate some of the silly rules, I do wish education was treated as a priviledge rather than an obligation by more people. </p>
<p>I’m wondering, do other schools have handbooks, requiring parental signatures for these things like ours does? It seems that the time to protest the rules would be at the time of signing.</p>
<p>(I just Googled - only 26 states say school to/through age 16; the others are 17 or 18.)</p>