TEENS HAVE SAME RIGHTS

Random searches of high school lockers by police with drug-sniffing
dogs have been routine in Canada for a long time.

Not any more. Last week, the Supreme Court of Canada clamped a tight
leash on the canine cannabis sniffers, ruling that warrantless
searches were "unlawful" and a breach of privacy under the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms.

Many law enforcement and education officials will look at this ruling
as a major blow against their efforts to keep illegal drugs out of our
schools. They believe that the randomness of the searches has acted as
a deterrent against student dealers stashing their goods in lockers
and knapsacks.

This may be partly true. But the Supreme Court justices ruled that
teenagers have the same rights as all citizens. And they're right. Few
adults would accept searches of their briefcases and desks at work,
knowing that they were held under constant suspicion and subject to
possible intrusions without notice.

It's important to note that searches aren't banned outright. They can
still be conducted if officials have reasonable suspicion. And in no
way does this minimize the zero-tolerance policy for drugs at school.

As good educators, teachers will just have to be more effective in
relaying the anti-drug message and the seriousness of the issue in the
classroom.