help?

*FLORIDA* I'm from Palm Beach County and I was simply wondering, exactly what rights DO students have under "in loco parentis"? The idea that teachers are blatently raping our rights occurs more and more frequently to me now. I am discomforted in my realization that we are no longer people in our schools. We have become numbers and letter grades. That is all we seem to be worth. I find it upsetting that a teacher can simply take away your cell phone because it is visible. I'm not sure even the police can do that. It makes me even more angry because the cell phone was not being used for its usual purpose. It was being used as a calculator. Does a teacher have the right to take it away for that, and then refuse to return it? I don't appreciate being told that i need to "be gone" when i return after school for my possessions (spelling?). Then to be told to wait outside in the searing heat instead of an office because I'm discussing my objections with a friend. As if that wasn't enough, while in the parking lot on the way to my car (after school and still without having my cell phone returned) I was voicing my opinion about how schools just don't care about students anymore i was told to "keep it to myself unless i wanted a referral". Is this permittable? Are schools allowed to ask you to drop put because your grades aren't satisfactory? I have come to the conclusion that the "No Child Left Behind Act" is losing more children than it's saving. I don't want to be disruptive at school, but I don't know how to go about finding information about what my rights exactly are there. Do i shed my rights at the doors? If so, is that not discrimination because of age? Or as a minor do I lose my rights altogether? I am not permitted to speak. I am not permitted to wear what i choose and engage in self expression. I am not permitted to voice my objections and am threatened with detention and referalls. There is no explanation, empathy, understanding, caring, or consideration. I am number 2375723. I am a "B" student. Is that all that matters in this system now?

Was there a legal question on a specific issue in all of that crap or is this a homework assignment? Because if it's not either of those it's simple mental self-gratification.

Gee when I went to high school in a wealthy county in California, we didn't have those problems
We didn't have cel phones, they did provide a coin pay phone.
We walked to school until 10th grade then if we had a car we could park in an unpaved lot or on the city streets.
We didn't get to wear what we wanted, they had a dress code, they would check to see if our skirts were too short so we learned to roll them up at the waistband, but could roll it down if we had to get down on our knees/the skirt had to touch the floor. They finally allowed girls to wear pants to school. Boys had to wear long pants No tee shirts, no bare midrifts, some girls had their ears pierced, no boys did and no tattos.
No one would ever think of being seen riding a bicycle to school and skateboards were just made from a length of 1x6 and an old pair of clamp-on skates, carefully nailed on.....
We didn't have pagers, celphones or calculators, if you were lucky you learned to use a slide rule We learned how to do math without a calculator, count back change, we learned to type, we didn't have personal computers, the closest thing to a laptop was a compact manual typewriter, our search engine was an encyclopedia in the library.
They did teach sex education but they cut the diagraims out of the books but somehow we figured out how everything worked.
The music was great, none better and the beat goes on.....

When you're in school (or on school property), you do as the school tells you. No phones means *no phones*. Not used as a calculator, not used as a camera, not used for any purpose at all. Buy a calculator if you need one.

Another fine example of my tax dollars being wasted.

I'm sure voicing your opinion didn't include asking for an appointment with an administrator, sitting down and asking questions or volunteering you opninio quietly and respectfully. I'm sure you were walikng out to the parking lot loudly and rudely "voicing" your opinion with an audience. Now is a good time to learn proper procedure and how to follow the rules. When you have a job be prepared to follow the rules or "be gone" with no money in your pocket or food on your table. Welcome to the real world! You sound like a hateful teenage girl who is throwing a tantrum.

If you want to know your rights, search google like the grownups do.

OK. First of all, yesterday I was upset. This carried through in my passage above as I'm sure you all read. Secondly, no, I was not rude in my vocalizing of my opinion. I am a good student and i hate being in trouble so I would know better than to approach a teacher with an attitude. Nothing would be accomplished that way. My anger was aroused later when I was refused my own property. When i tried talking reasonably I was cut off and not allowed to speak. I am hurt and upset when teachers that don't know me simply assume I am a trouble maker and treat me as such. I volunteer at school. I get good grades. And I generally keep my mouth shut. So why sould I be treated like a criminal? Are students not to be able to trust their teachers? I no longer trust mine. They are pleasant enough when we conform to what they want but when we step outside of their confined little cell of right and wrong suddenly we are "bad kids" and we "disgust" them. I don't appreciate being called a feminist and babe by my history teacher. I am not his babe. Is this not a form of sexual harrassment? And to frequently single me out in front of my peers. Does he have the right to do that as well? The cell phone problem is not the general issue. It's just an example of the schools indifference to the students. So, in conclusion, I have 2 questions. 1) Do teachers have the right to confiscate student property that is not illegal on campus and then later refuse to give it back? -and- 2) If I chose to organize a silent protest among students could I be punished for it? It would simply be a day of silence (for students general unhappiness with how we are treated by the officials and people of power in our school).

P.S.
I am so sorry my earlier post was so...infantile? I didn't mean to be so childish. I have never had these problems with my schools before and i didn't know how to react.

You have to ask yourself a question before you decide to protest. Are my convictions so strong that any trouble will be worth it? If not, don't even begin to organize. Sometimes action is worth the consequences.

Our school makes you pay a fifteen dollar fine when caught with a cell phone out during school hours. If you get caught several times, we'll keep it until the end of the school year.

I could only wish some of my students would have a belief strong enough to protest. Wouldn't bother me a bit if my students had a silent protest. You'll have to check your school's policies and procedures.

Most teachers care about their students. Believe me, they aren't in it for the money. NCLB requires teachers to teach the test. Very restricting. Texas has been testing for several years and the teachers have learned how to teach the test. Sad state of affairs if you ask me.

Xbrightasyellow said:

OK. First of all, yesterday I was upset. This carried through in my passage above as I'm sure you all read.

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So far, so good.

Xbrightasyellow said:

Secondly, no, I was not rude in my vocalizing of my opinion.

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I spoke too soon. YOU don't get to decide about how rude you are preceived. I suggest you take psychology of oral communications class at your local college. Then you'll understand that the second your message leaves your lips, you lose control over it's interpretation.

Xbrightasyellow said:

I am a good student and i hate being in trouble so I would know better than to approach a teacher with an attitude.

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Not relevant to the issue.

Xbrightasyellow said:

Nothing would be accomplished that way. My anger was aroused later when I was refused my own property. When i tried talking reasonably I was cut off and not allowed to speak. I am hurt and upset when teachers that don't know me simply assume I am a trouble maker and treat me as such.

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It's called real life. Learn to deal with it because it's going to happen every day that you are alive, either in school, work or in anything you do in public.

Xbrightasyellow said:

I volunteer at school. I get good grades. And I generally keep my mouth shut.

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Also not relevant.

Xbrightasyellow said:

So why sould I be treated like a criminal? Are students not to be able to trust their teachers? I no longer trust mine. They are pleasant enough when we conform to what they want but when we step outside of their confined little cell of right and wrong suddenly we are "bad kids" and we "disgust" them.

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More rationalizing which doesn't help your cause one bit.

Xbrightasyellow said:

I don't appreciate being called a feminist and babe by my history teacher. I am not his babe. Is this not a form of sexual harrassment?

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FINALLY, an issue. Now, see how long it took for you to get to it? Who is going to wade through the rest of this self-serving crap to find the ONE true legal issue you have?

The next time any teacher, male or female, calls you 'babe', 'honey' or anything you find offensive all you need to do is tell this person 'I don't appreciate being called your 'babe'. I have a name. I prefer you use it and not be subjected to your sexist attitudes' . You will probably be sent to the principal's office. Go. Take your punishment. Then, when you're out of school, visit your local attorney (and yes, you have ot pay for his/her services. It's the price of fighting for what you believe it) and have him/her write a cease and desist letter to the offending teacher, with a copy to the principal and every member of the school board.

Xbrightasyellow said:

And to frequently single me out in front of my peers. Does he have the right to do that as well? The cell phone problem is not the general issue. It's just an example of the schools indifference to the students.

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I agree. So drop it.

Xbrightasyellow said:

So, in conclusion, I have 2 questions. 1) Do teachers have the right to confiscate student property that is not illegal on campus and then later refuse to give it back?

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Yes.

Xbrightasyellow said:

-and- 2) If I chose to organize a silent protest among students could I be punished for it? It would simply be a day of silence (for students general unhappiness with how we are treated by the officials and people of power in our school).

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Of course they can punish you for it.

BelizeBreeze said:

The next time any teacher, male or female, calls you 'babe', 'honey' or anything you find offensive all you need to do is tell this person 'I don't appreciate being called your 'babe'. I have a name. I prefer you use it and not be subjected to your sexist attitudes' . You will probably be sent to the principal's office. Go. Take your punishment. Then, when you're out of school, visit your local attorney (and yes, you have ot pay for his/her services. It's the price of fighting for what you believe it) and have him/her write a cease and desist letter to the offending teacher, with a copy to the principal and every member of the school board.

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But what if she (he? ) is a babe? Isn't the truth a defense?

thanks

thank you all for your help. especially BelizBreeze...you have opened my eyes in a way. you're right. i am going to be judged for the rest of my life without people knowing me. but that doesnt i have to lay down and take it. your harsh and brazen manner of adressing my inquiery was in its own way helpful. thank you for the advice with my history teacher. its most useful. i will know in the future when i post here to stick to facts and simple questions rather than elaborating too much. very helpful. and as for the protest...i'm going fo it. i dont think a teacher can honestly punish me for refusing to speak and if they do i guess ill have to go to the school board. maybe im just an optimist or maybe im just a fighter for lost causes but either way i am armed with a little mroe knowledge and i think its for the better. i now realize that no matter who i go to for help i will be viewed as another whiney teenager. it will be an obstacle to overcome so thank you for my first experience in dealing with my elders. thanks again!

school rules

you need to follow the school rules but should get back your cell phone. do NOT use it as a calculator. keep it put away in school and OFF. my son has a cell phone and keeps it on vibrate.

sorry you feel this way. sounds like some counseling would help. no kidding. i have 4 children teens to 5 years old. what year are you? keep your grades up before you know it high school will be over. college is totally different a place where you can talk about your ideas openly.

is there a chance you could transfer to a small private school or charter school? do you have friends, involved in school?

the school cannot ask you to leave.

keep up the school work. remember you might work in situations with people you do not like and consider this practice for life. keep working hard at school and have some fun and enjoy your teen years.