Can school's view pupils Facebook Profiles even when they're on private?

[Horatio]

I'm fourteen and attend secondary school in Scotland.

My school always threatens us that they can see our Facebook profiles even if they're on private. A teacher also implied that they made fake profiles to check up on pupils.

I know that they can't see what you post if your privacy settings are on, so don't bother telling me that. Recently, things have gotten really bad, regarding our school and Facebook. Pupils at my school have been caught posting pictures they've taken in class and there's even been a case that someone's boyfriend "fraped" them and told them how much they loved them and the girls dad jokingly said something like, "you're a loser lol" and now the girl might have to see social services.

I've heard cases of things being reported by other pupils to the school, like a photoshopped picture of our head or someone who's being bullied, or who has made a racist comment, which is fair enough. I guess. I think cases like these are the only things people should be pulled up about.

But, recently people have been caught for having pictures on their profile that they took with their phone in the school building. Which is something I don't even think the lowest of people would report. Also, a friend of mine wasn't allowed to log out of her Facebook when a teacher asked her to log in when she was leaving the class.

I wrote something on Facebook, giving my opinion on a school rule, but a friend of mine made me take it down because apparently some people have been reporting these rants to the school, or the school has found them. And, even though these things are our own personal opinions, people have been given detentions, which I'm sure is taking away our right of freedom of speech.

There's a rumour going round that teacher at our school use the same sort of programs as the police to view our profiles, but I don't think they're allowed to and if they do I think it's considered spyware, and, spyware is illegal.

So, could someone tell me what teachers are allowed to do when it comes to viewing our Facebook profiles? Because, I think if they can access our profiles, even if they're on private then that's an invasion of our privacy. And if this is illegal I'm thinking of informing the police.

Also, sorry for the weird username, I forgot my Yahoo account details so I'm using a stupid account, which you may call a "troll" email account a friend and I made a few years back.
PS, I don't use Facebook in school as the school network blocks it for pupils. The only people who can use Facebook in schools are the teachers. (That's what I was meaning when I was speaking about my friend, she was caught with a picture she took in class and the teacher made her log on so she could delete it and when the teacher asked her to leave she wouldn't let her log off.)

[KirstyTMB]

Yes they can see it even if its on private but i dont think they have a program they use themselves.

im at college and there was an argument between one of my friends and some girl in school a few years below us. this girl was sending abusive and threatening messages over private messages so my friend told the college about it. (its more of a 6th form joint onto the school this girl goes to but saying college is much easier) anyway, my friend didnt give the college any passwords etc for her account but the next day they had a copy of the conversation that wasnt even on their walls it was through the private messages.

so yh, they can look at it but as i said i dont think its a program they use because we were talking to the teacher involved about how she got the conversation and even though she wouldnt say much about it we kind of worked out that they have to have a valid reason for looking at it to start with and then they go to the police asking them to look at your profile to confirm whatevers been going on and if it is serious (like in my friends case she was being threatened) then they can print any information off and it becomes like a formal kind of thing.

hope that helps

[eve]

No of course they can't see your profile. There isn't a special type of Facebook for schools and teachers. They can only see what other people show them. So if one of your Facebook friends showed a teacher what you had written, that is the only way. Teachers shouldn't be getting involved with that sort of thing anyway, it's none of their business unless someone is getting bullied because of it. If you're worried, just don't use facebook while you're at school.