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Quebec high school strip search of student deprives teens of rights

Fifteen years old and stripped-searched for drugs by a teacher and principal is apparently 'by the book'. As a Quebec school board defends its right to conduct such searches and parents express outrage, , we're asking about the rights of students in education systems across this country.
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People are outraged over Quebec's education minister standing by a school's choice to strip search a student. But some say it is not surprising since teens are treated like they have no rights in the education system. (Dean Terry, Flickr cc)

Quebec Education Minister, Yves Bulduc supports officials at a Quebec City school who he says were acting within the rules when they conducted a strip search of a 15-year-old girl.

The strip search reportedly took place last week, after school officials suspected her of selling drugs ...marijuana, and it was conducted by two women: the school's principal and another staffer.

Although the actions were within the rules, Mr. Bulduc has also called for an independent investigation into the matter.

The De La Capitale School Board has put out a statement defending the search, and explaining its guidelines in conducting strip searches. It says a screen or cover must be used to protect students who have undressed. Only the clothes may be searched, and not the student's body. Two people must be present during the search, preferably of the same gender as the student and that there must be no direct contact with the student.

We convened two guests to help us wade through this issue.

Mary Birdsell is the Executive Director of a legal aid clinic called Justice for Children and Youth. She joined us in our Toronto studio.

Ailsa Watkinson is a Professor with the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Regina, and the author of "Education, Student Rights and the Charter." She joins us from Christ Church, Barbados.


We did request to speak with Yves Bolduc, the Education Minister for Quebec, someone from the high school in Quebec City - Polyvalente Neufchatel - and someone from De La Capitale School Board. None of the requests were granted.


What do you think? Do schools have a right to strip search a student?

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This segment was produced by The Current's Sarah Grant and Naheed Mustafa.

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