Parents React After 3rd Graders Strip Searched (CBS) ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. One Anne Arundel County school has been put under investigation after students were forced to undergo a strip search.
The principal at Shipley's Choice Elementary has now been temporarily removed as an investigation into the incident goes forward.
An overnight field trip to the Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center last month, led to an alleged strip search of several third grade students from Shipley's Choice.
"I would like the school board to talk more," said parent Colleen Carneglia. "They need to give answers to some of the questions that are being asked."
For some parents at Shipley's Choice, many questions have been raised.
So far, school leaders confirmed that the third grade class took a sleep over trip to Arlington Echo--an outdoor learning center. Sometime during the trip students were forced to strip while they were searched for ticks that may carry lyme disease.
Despite that explanation, some parents said they did not think the strip search was needed to protect the students' safety.
"They could have waited or they could teach the kids to look themselves," said parent Jeri Cohen. Cohen added, "There's nothing that's going to happen that's that dramatic until the next day."
Ticks are a common carrier of lyme disease and children who are bitten must be searched for the tick bites. That was why some parents said a strip search was okay.
"It seems like a case where you're on a camping trip and someone's checking for ticks, well maybe its not about something that's really a sexual situation," said parent Jani Zito.
Zito's daughter, Melonie, was bitten by a tick last summer and acquired lyme disease.
Because of the risk of lyme disease, Zito said she agreed with the search but that the school system should have a policy to address the issue.
"Maybe parents need to sign a permission slip," said Zito. "In my case, I would certainly say 'oh please check my child for ticks' because I know what it costs if you don't check."
Maryland has a high rate of lyme disease cases and the spring and summer months have traditionally been the worst for infections.
Anne Arundel County school officials declined interview requests but county police did say they are looking into "possible child abuse."
The principal who has been temporarily removed was not on the trip when the strip searches took place.
Some parents said since the principal was not there, she should be re-instated immediately.
(� MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
What DO you think? Ann - OH
Posted by susiecv (Member # 9702) on :
Crraaaaaazy! They did this without advance parental permission??? Geez...I make sure to get signed permission slips from my student's parents to show PG movies to 6th graders! (even though most of them watch R-rated at home anyway )
Posted by Just Julie (Member # 1119) on :
THIS IS EXACTLY, EXACTLY, WHY I KEPT MY KIDS HOME FROM THOSE STUPID STUPID IDIOTICALLY IGNORANT *** "OUTDOOR EDUCATION" field trips folks.
As if strip searching a child will really be a reliable way of "preventing" a tick bite. Oh come on, really.
Or, better yet, as one of the parents interviewed in the article said "the kids could search for ticks themselves". Oh yeah, there's another reliable method. Especially looking on their backs, under their arms, in the pubic area, between the toes.
When are the schools going to wake up and get it? As stupid as this seems, it is also very sad. Like running through a vat of molasses.
And these are 3RD GRADERS? Sheesh. I am so glad, so glad I am almost through with the bull**** of the school systems and what they think they need to do to give my kids and "education". I'm no home schooling mom by any stretch of the imagination, but I do know that I did not, will not, let the public/private educational minds dictate what kids would put themselves in danger for.
This is such an obvious lesson----give up the goddamned "outdoor education" part of the teaching in the classroom, and keep the kids safe, at least for a little while! Give those parents some peace of mind, how sad that one of those kids talked about in the article came home from one of these STUPID IDIOTIC TRIPS with a tick bite that resulted in lyme disease. So unnecessary. What a waste.
WAKE UP PARENTS!!! Wake up for gods sake.
Posted by Just Julie (Member # 1119) on :
Permission slips (sorry, I forgot another integral part of my rant)??????
Giving permission to some parent or teacher, or who knows who else, to "STRIP SEARCH MY CHILD"???? As if. This is a riot. With all of the molestation cases out there, this is just one step away from the hideous wake up call that America will probably blow wide open once it becomes known. The closet pedophiles will be sizing this one up as soon as it becomes standard practice to get "advanced parental consent" permission slips for these poor children on their mandatory outdoor education field trips.
Whoo-eee. It'll be a molesters fantasy trip come true. Geewhiz little Johnny, here let me take a look "down there" for you for those nasty tick buggers . . . I've got your mommy's permission, see, it's okay . . .
How many ticks does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
Posted by ks mom (Member # 11626) on :
What ever happened to the old way....you know....
"Jonny went on a field trip that has possibly exposed him to ticks, please check him when he gets home. If you should find a tick...[instruction sheet enclosed]..."
Good grief...not even parent notification anymore??!!
And strip searching a third grader....I can't print how I feel about THAT
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