STUDENTS DENOUNCE STRIP SEARCHES AT SCHOOL

Hancock County School Superintendent Mike Ladner's announcement that he was
willing to authorize strip searches of students suspected of carrying
illegal drugs didn't set too well with students at the school.

Ladner made the statement after a student overdosed on prescription
sleeping pills before the Christmas holiday. His war on drugs includes the
possibility of strip searching students suspected of having illegal drugs.

Most of the students at the school surveyed did not agree that strip
searching was a method for searching, even though the state Attorney
General's Office said school officials could legally have students strip
searched with only a reasonable suspicion.

In a survey sponsored by The Sun Herald's Web site, two-thirds of those who
voted did not approve of strip searching as a way to combat drug use.

Here is an example of what some Hancock High School students had to say to
the question, "Should school officials be allowed to strip search students?"

a.. Jessica LeRouge, junior: "No, because I think it is degrading toward
all students. I also think that most of the students are smart enough not
to bring drugs with them to school. I think that they are just saying this
to scare students, but I don't think it will work."

a.. Ronald Zoerner, ninth grade: "No, I think going as far as strip
searching is an invasion of the students' privacy."

a.. Rachel Necaise, junior: "I don't like it because kids at Hancock could
make false accusations against someone if they were mad at them. A student
could convince an administrator that another student has drugs on them and
get strip searched. It would be very embarrassing."

a.. LeTisha Shiyou, junior: "I agree in some situations. If parents give
consent and are present during the search, then it's not that bad. It
actually scares me to think that they have the power to invade my privacy.
It also worries me to think that the school board thinks of Hancock High
students as being that involved with drugs. The thought of being stripped
searched just because they have a suspicion is disturbing."

a.. Scott Nesom, ninth grade: "It's not right to do that to the students. A
backpack check should be as far as they go as far as searching. Strip
searching is going way too far."

Ashley Zoerner is a student at Hancock County High School and a member of
The Sun Herald Teen Board.