Principal invading privacy and looking at students facebook pages.?

[Amber]

The principal of Knippa ISD when he takes up an ipod or cell from students will go through their messages and images. Our neighbors daughter had her cell taken up and the principal went through the whole thing then grilled her about it. Since then she now has it pass coded. ( too clarify electronic devices are allowed at school as long as they are not in use during school hours) My own daughter had a cell taken up and the principal did the exact same thing, but when I went too discuss it with him he also had my daughters facebook page pulled up behind his desk going through her email and pictures. He had grilled her for the password and freely admitted this and that he had been reading her messages. I know for a fact teenagers have questionable content on their phones and the fact the principal apparently knows this and chooses too continue too look at them disturbs me. I would go over his head but he is not only the principal but also the superintendent. As a parent I constantly check my childrens phones and facebook pages but this is not the principals right. ( and as of now my daughter is restricted from any electronic media except a tin can and string)
( I understand it is a public domain that's not the issue the issue is he made my daughter give him her personal password too go through her page and spent the day reading her messages) She was in trouble for using her cell not being on Facebook.
( I could understand looking too see if they were cheating that's understandable but when he looks at images of my daughter and actually goes through their pictures that's cause for concern)
The question was basically what too do about this. He is also the superintendent. Only other option is the school board. The local police have been involved but they say their hands are tied because of the student handbook ( which in no way mentions the principal has any right too look through personal information) just that the devices will be taken up. The officer actually told me it wasn't right and other parents have voiced their concerns.

[Poppy]

Public domain, the kids put it out there. That is the danger kids do not understand.

[Grizzly]

That is totally not right, he is there for your kid's education and THATS ALL. I don't know what the laws are like where you live but I do know that some places you can get into a lot of trouble for invading someones privacy. If there is no way to stop this man, then your daughter should have a code on her phone. On a side note... I don't think thats cool going through your daughters stuff... I know your a parent and you should monitor your child at all times, but not through their PRIVATE stuff... Thats just how I look at it.

P.S Warn the principle that if he touches your daughters phone again there will be serious problems (thats just what I would say)

Hope that helps

[N T]

In our schools, phones and ipods are not permitted. The principal may state they were simply looking to see if the students are cheating. The grilling for a password and going on Facebook do though seems a bit much.

I am not taking sides here but don't think this is the place to get a good answer. I would check this district's policies which may be on their website and possibly even ask an attorney. Good luck.

[sabrina]

Record him doing this and get him fired. I am sure he is breaking several laws by his questionable behavior.

[misha999]

donot understand the question.

Here's what you can do.
From your daughter's account block the bad guy..
Tell him she's deactivated her account.
And she can sneak her phone with your permission , no ones gonna check her pockets or backpack.
Anyways.
We (i'm seventeen) arent allowed to bring any electronics to school but evryone does.
iN case someone takes it from me my parents would talk to the teacher and say its just today..he wasnt feeling well so just in case we allowed him to do tht.
My dad allows me because if many personel reasons.

[Papa Lazarous]

**Updated**

As i already said, write a formal complaint to the school board and contact the local paper to see if they will be interested [i'm sure they will] . Even if no official action is taken against the superintendent over this particular issue, it will probably cause enough fuss to stop them doing it again to anyone else.
This is a valid "invasion of privacy" and the teacher has no more right to insist on being given the password to a facebook account on an ipod then then they do to force anyone to give them the passcode to their cashpoint card in their purse/wallet

You should pursue this matter strongly

**

Your daughter should have refused to the teacher the password. He has the right to confiscate the ipod if it was being used during a lesson or school rules state such devices should be left at home but that is all. I would make an appointment to see the head teacher and voice your concerns and if you are not satisfied or this superintendent is the highest authority at the school, then make a written complaint to the school board of governors or whatever similar option you have. Otherwise contact the education department and complain to your local MP or similar government representative. Invasion of privacy in this way is an abuse of his position and i would not let the matter rest
The easy way to avoid a similar thing happening again is to restrict your daughter to using her ipod at home and not let her take it to school.