Need info on the practice of confiscating items

[sciguy]

I am working on an ethics project and would like to know your view on the practice of confiscating student property.

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?
2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?
3. When is it expected that the item be returned?
4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?
5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?
6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?
7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

Thanks! A gold star to anyone who can help me out on this! If you know of any articles dealing with this, please let me know!

[Gary]

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?
Yes

2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?

Walkman's, Gameboy, Sunglasses.

3. When is it expected that the item be returned?

The end of the day; the first two times. The third time, your parents have to come in and get it.

4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?

Major distractions from learning and complete mis use of the item. If you have a walkman in your book bag, that's one thing. But, if you are actively listening to it when class is in session that's unacceptable.

5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?

No

6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?

They don't

7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

No

[Unregistered]

yes
mobile phones being used in class
placed in envelopes stapled shut locked in school safe until end of school day
never ever use - that is then theft
following school policy - students may have mobile phones but are not allowed to use them during school hours
am in another country so laws will differ and don't really believe that there are any laws regarding this except we are not allowed to go through students' bags and have to rely on them handing over - almost always will rather than recieve a suspension for failing to follow instructions.

[Unregistered]

1. Have you confiscated property from a student? yes
2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated? books left in desks or the hall, things played with in class
3. When is it expected that the item be returned? when the student writes a letter stating why they should receive their property back
4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property? disrupting class, or left behind in desks and hallway
5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes? no
6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property? we confiscate all things left in the hall, and cell phones, gameboys etc
7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property? yes

[Unregistered]

I am an 8th grade teacher in the Nashville area. Our school has a written policy which the students are given in their student handbooks at the beginning of each year. Parents and students must read the book and sign and we, the teachers keep the preforated copy of their signatures in the files for future references. Most of the time we have problems with students bringing CD's, CD players, GameBoys and other techno items. We have the right to take them and the parents can pick the items up. Since the incident at Columbine, our students are allowed cell phones however, they must be turned off and hidden from view. We can collect these also if the students are caught with these items. Again, parents have to pick them up. I have special envelopes that I can place items in with students name on the outside. I also date when item was confiscated and parent must sign they have received item. At this time a hearty discussion is made with the parent and student about inappropriate items. Usually, the parent having to come up to the school has limited the amount of items we have to take. Believe it or not - after the school term ends, we still have items such as musical instruments, cell phones, CD players, etc. Some never get picked up. I believe the responsibility level of some of our students AND parents is amazing. We have a large collection box at the end of the school year for students who have left backpacks, coats, umbrellas, purses, shoes and other items that I am sure parents would miss! Luckily, we have plenty of homeless people who have benefited from their losses. As far as I know, there is no "law" of jurisdiciton preventing the indiividual schools from enforcing their own "law' with regard to confiscating property. We do have a police officer present daily in our schools as well as "campus" security and they are always on the lookout for "illegal" items. Fortunately, we have not had issues of gusn. knives, drugs, and the like in our middle school.


I am working on an ethics project and would like to know your view on the practice of confiscating student property.

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?
2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?
3. When is it expected that the item be returned?
4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?
5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?
6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?
7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

Thanks! A gold star to anyone who can help me out on this! If you know of any articles dealing with this, please let me know!

[jones3jl]

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?

Yes, I have confiscated items from my students.

2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?

I have confiscated many items including hats, locks, laser pointer, and other "toys".

3. When is it expected that the item be returned?

I warn the students the first time, then the next time I see the item the I take it and put it in my June box, which means they will not get it back until june. However, with the laser pointer I did take it right away because it is in our handbook that students are not allowed to have them.

4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?

I confiscate their property because most of the time it is distracting them form learning as well as their classmates. I do give them the warning, so I feel that they have made the choice of losing the item.

5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?

Definitly not, I would never take a student's property for my own use or purposes. Most of the time if you asked the student to use something they have, they are more than willing to share. In this case, I feel that it wouldn't be considered confiscating.

6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?

No our school does not have a policy on this issue, but they do say that cell phones and laser pointer will be taken from the student. However, this year we had two cell phones taken from students and they could not get them back unless their parents came in to get them.

7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

No, I don't know the laws regarding this. It is truly something that I would be interested in though.

[Unregistered]

1. Have you confiscated property from a student? Yes
2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated? toys, walkmans, handheld videogames
3. When is it expected that the item be returned? My rule that goes home in rules at the beginning of the year is: If an object that is distracting to learning is present, a student will be asked to put it on my desk. They may pick it up at the end of the day (sometimes it takes a few days for them to remember to reclaim it) and they will be asked to not bring it to school again. If I see the same item again, at any point in the year, I take it to be re-claimed only by parents.
4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property? distraction to learning
5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes? no
6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property? no
7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?no

[Unregistered]

This is a cool topic. Keep the replies coming.

[lateacher]

I am working on an ethics project and would like to know your view on the practice of confiscating student property.

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?
Yes

2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?
Radios, trading cards, balls, CD players, homework from other classes, scissors, hair picks, various toys

3. When is it expected that the item be returned?
Depends on the item and whether this is a repeated problem with the student. For Cd players, radios, and gameboys, those are given to the principal's office per school policy. Other items usually at the end of the day, but sometimes later. I usually return all items at the end of the school year.

4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?
1. Disrupting class is the usual reason.
2. Other times for having items that violate school policy.

5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?
No.

6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?
Yes

7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

No

[Lisa's Hotscakes]

Anyone with an MEA worth its salt knows the case law regarding confiscation. Just ask the principal. That's why they're hired.

[Unregistered]

I am working on an ethics project and would like to know your view on the practice of confiscating student property.

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?
2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?
3. When is it expected that the item be returned?
4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?
5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?
6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?
7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

Thanks! A gold star to anyone who can help me out on this! If you know of any articles dealing with this, please let me know!


1. yes
2. magaiznes, books (read during class), laser pointer, balls, etc
3. They need to write a letter and have it signed by a parent
4.Distracting students
5.Yes. at the end of last year, one of my kids didn't pick up his laser pointer, so I brought it home to play with my cat.
6.not that I know of
7.no

[MOzarks]

1. Have you confiscated property from a student? YES

2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?

Items that are taken temporarily from student possession include: hats worn during school hours, toys,objects that become toys during class -- light-up pens, stretchy bracelets--if the student takes them off and plays with them, hair brushes and combs, cell phones, electronic games, notes written to friends, threatening notes, rubber bands, the tubes of pens that have had the insides taken out, noisemakers, medicines, candy, food, any object that a student repeatedly puts in his/her mouth, any object that "flies" in the classroom, even homework from another class if it is being completed instead of our class assignment.

Items that are taken permanently include illegal drugs, tobacco products, ammunition, cigarette lighters, etc. I have never had to take a firearm, but another teacher in my hall has.

3. When is it expected that the item be returned?

Items illegal for minor possession might be returned to parents -- such as a lighter. Items that are illegal are turned over to law enforcement.

Threatening notes are turned over immediately to the administration or counselor or both.

Students are told to come by and claim items that merely created a distraction in class at the end of the day. (Toys, caps, candy, etc.)

Items that are against school policy are turned over to the office, and the student has to meet with the principal to claim possession. (Cell phones, electronic games, and CD players.)

Caps are against school policy, but I usually return them at the end of the day. If the offense recurs, then the cap is turned into the office.


4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?

Items that are illegal for minor possession are confiscated immediately.

Items are confiscated if they create a danger or disruption of the learning process. Items are also confiscated if listed in the school handbook as being against school policy.

5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?
No, educators have the responsibility of teaching values to our students by example.

6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?
The topic is addressed at faculty meetings.


7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?
I'm not sure what they are, but I am sure they exist. Most laws just explain common sense. I would think that it is illegal to claim student items for personal possession and that the item must be returned to the student, parent, or administration in a timely manner.

[Unregistered]

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?

Yes

2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?

Anything distracting them from their education eg, toys, caps, cd players, jewlery, other homework, etc.

3. When is it expected that the item be returned?

Usually the end of the day, kept longer if repeat offence. Notes between students being the exception -- I scan content and if it doesn't need follow up, it's ripped and thrown out on the spot.

4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?

Creating a distraction/danger to the learning environment or breaking class rules

5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?

No

6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?

Don't know -- have never had a problem thus far.

7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

Don't know

[Unregistered]

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?
2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?
3. When is it expected that the item be returned?
4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?
5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?
6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?
7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

I typically send a trusted student with a note to the dean or ap of my middle school to confiscate an inappropriate item from a student. These items range from a cell phone being used in class repeatedly to dice used as a disturbance. I dont confiscate notes being passed since it puts me in a direct confrontation with the offending student(s) in front of class - I let the save face and just make the note disappear. I do take note but I do make a point to talk to the privately at a later time in the day.
I dont have an interest personally in my students property nor do I threaten to have any such interest.
I refer situations to the dean since i never want to put myself in a position of me "against" the student. I am also not a tenured teacher and do not want to open any possible can of problems. I do not have the immediate authority to force a student to empty his/her pockets and as I said I dont want to get into any power struggle.

FYI - I have engaged in one immediate conficscation - this was of a weapon displayed in my classroom. I felt the upper hand as soon as my class said that you'd better give the knife to the teacher before anything happens and the class had already sided with me. Normally if I had only seen or heard that he/she was carrying it - I would have sent an urgent note to the adminisration to see the student and why. I have also made it a practice to pick students and send notes - so that if i need to use this procedure no flags go up with the class and it can be discreetly done.

Finally, with respect to the laws, I always try to think how the situation can be mistaken from someone else's point of view and except for immediate danger, such as the knife try to leave confiscating to a dean. (I am a second year teacher in the NYC Board of Ed.)

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=sciguy]I am working on an ethics project and would like to know your view on the practice of confiscating student property.

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?

Yes


2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?

Cell Phones


3. When is it expected that the item be returned?

We turn it into the office and they follow handbook policy


4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?

Cell phones are not allowed during school hours for obvious purposes


5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?

no


6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?

yes


7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?


yes

[Unregistered]

I am working on an ethics project and would like to know your view on the practice of confiscating student property.

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?

Yes

2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?

Pistols, revolvers, hand grenades, one flame thrower, anti-personnel mines and various rocket launchers (hey... it's a rough school in a rough town).

3. When is it expected that the item be returned?

ASAP

4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?

Self-preservation

5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?

Wanted to but......................

6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?

Fo shizzle, dawg

7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

Too busy ducking to worry about laws that only come into play after the fact.


Thanks! A gold star to anyone who can help me out on this! If you know of any articles dealing with this, please let me know!

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.

Okay.... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 and one to grow on.

Burp

[Unregistered]

the teacher took my hat, beacuase i was wearing it when i was walking down the stairs, he said you can have it back at the end of the term, which is 5 weeks away and its the coldest time of the year, has he got the right to do this.

[Unregistered]

I confiscate anything that doesn't get put away when I ask a student to put it away and they are not on task. I also confiscate all CD players and turned on phones. The electronics is a school rule and I follow it. If a student says they didn't know all I do is ask them if they have seen the Jaguar tracks, our behavior plan if they say yes I say then you read the rule. I think if you have a rule everyone should enforce it. They don't.
I had a five subject notebook left in my class which I read for notes. I have 6th grade girls in the class 1 of whom has threatened suicide. I wanted to make sure that they weren't ostracizing that girl' I found a letter saying the student didn't like me and was going to kill me. Because her name was on the outrside of the notebook I was chastized for reading her private property. The father said that he had written things he wouldn't want another person let alone his children to read, and I had no right to go into her stuff. I believe this was rediculous. In this case I wasn't worried about the threat. Iwas concerned for there child that she would write anything like that.

I am working on an ethics project and would like to know your view on the practice of confiscating student property.

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?
2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?
3. When is it expected that the item be returned?
4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?
5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?
6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?
7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

Thanks! A gold star to anyone who can help me out on this! If you know of any articles dealing with this, please let me know!

[Luv2Teach]

1. Yes, I have taken items from students in the past.
2. Items I have taken include: Cell Phones, IPods, CD Players, Hats
3. Normally items are returned at the end of the day. Sometimes though students who cause problems or are repeat offenders lose their items for the rest of the year.
4. We normally take items if they are not to be used in school and they are. Such as hats being worn in class or the halls, cell phones being on etc.
5. No, I have never taken student property for my own purposes! That is just wrong and is considered to be stealing!
6. If we take an item from a student, we must call the parents and notify them of what was taken, why, and when the student may have the item back.
7. No, I do not know any laws regarding this, and would hope my admistrator would share them with us to prevent any trouble.

[Unregistered]

Wondering about the policy on items used during school hours, but during the students free time. For example, I had a free class and I was using my mp3 player. The teacher then confiscated the item as I was walking down the hall. There is no obvious rule about this in the student handbook and I do not feel as if I were disturbing anyone. Thoughts from teachers?

[Sandi]

I am working on an ethics project and would like to know your view on the practice of confiscating student property.

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?

yes


2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?

Portable music devices


3. When is it expected that the item be returned?

When the school administration decides to return it. I am required to send the student and the offending material to the principal's office


4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?

Violation of school rules, disruptive in class.


5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?

No.


6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?

Yes. It will be sent to the office on first offense to be reclaimed by the parent.


7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

No.


Thanks! A gold star to anyone who can help me out on this! If you know of any articles dealing with this, please let me know!

[Unregistered]

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?
Yes
2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?
Walkman, sunglasses, handballs
3. When is it expected that the item be returned?
End of Day usually, unless repeat offenses, then parent must pick up.
4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?
Playing with items during class.
5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?
Never
6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?
We are supposed to immediately confiscate any electronic item we see a student with (cell phone, walkman, IPod, etc.) but I generally give them a warning like, "i think you should put that "calculator" away. I don't like to have to confiscate things so I generally give as much fair warning as possible.
7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?
I believe that you can confiscate prohibited items that you see in the open. You cannot search a student unless you have good reason, however. My AP once search one of my students who came to school smelling like marajuana. I guess that gave him reason enough and he was allowed to search him.

[Unregistered]

My son is in the 8th grade and was recently told to hand his I-pod into the Jr. high office by a teacher and that he could get it back at the end of the day. He took it down and handed it over to the secreatary (which was a substitute). He didn't get to go back to get it until the next day. When he did return they couldn't find it and feel that another student stole it. The superentendent says that it is not their responsibilty to replace it since it is int he hand book that they are not allowed to have them on school grounds and they are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Should the school be held liablt for this item since it was in there possesion? If they are not then anything that is confiscated can just be left to go anywhere and the student and their parents are the ones to pay. Any opinions on this

[Unregistered]

I took up an ipod ( we are told to do this ) We do this routinely with phones etc. It was stolen from me before the period was over. Parents insisted I replace it. It is written in our handbook that students should not bring expensive electronic items to school and that the school is not responsible if it is stolen lost etc.. HOWEVER, the parents would not back down and it was really ugly and uncomfortable before it was open. I was the target moreso than the school -- but the administration gots calls and demands too. I never really felt supported by my administrator.

This was the first time (in 20 years) that I saw the other side of the confiscation issue and how it could backfire on a teacher.

I would like to know what the previous poster knows about the laws... the poster asks questions and assumes we all know? What does "the principal worth his salt know abuot confiscation"?

[Unregistered]

I know your school has policy or procedure for these questions, but I have learned many ways to keep FROM having to TAKE many items. Students know now use Ipods and phones in my room. (electronics in general) Our policy is to take them and they have a parent pick them up the first time. Then, if the child has the item taken again, the district allows the school to keep the item until the close of school.
I have my own May Drawer.......I heard about the June one earlier. Makeup, toys, and anything inappropriate goes here. The student may get it back in May, May get it back in a day, May get it back in a week or the end of the semester, it just depends on attitude and understanding.
CD players.........I take them and leave them on my desk turned on until the end of class unless the student has brought them in before. (battery gets low)
Phones, Yes, I call their mothers..........tell them I have the phone

[Unregistered]

I am personally appaled with the way my school deals with confiscated property.

I have had confiscated over the years (five); a H&M jacket, a Officer's Club Jacket, two scarves, some Magnets and 4 magazines. A total of $240 worth of items. They were confiscated at various points for various reasons, yes I was in the wrong but when I went to claim them they had NONE of my stuff. Is it really fair that I have lost so much just because they cannot keep track of confiscated items?

Today for instance I was in home room reading Vogue, as I do regularly and the teacher is telling the home room off. I look up from my magazine, my friend is still flicking through it. My home room teacher walks up snatches the magazine and throws it on her desk, calls my friends and I 'inadequate' and tells us to stay behind. I mean yes we were in the wrong reading it in home room, but usually I read Vogue in home room and she has never minded before. Albeit we were in the wrong, do you not think calling 'inadequate' is completely insulting and irrelevant - seeing as me and my friends are intelligent pupils and quite the contary. When we stayed behind she asked who the magazine belonged to, I promptly replied and said that is was mine. She continued to say how I was reading that instead of listening to her, I objected of course as that was not so - I told her how I listened intently. She replied 'not enough' to which I responded, 'right, can I would rather not you confiscate my magazine'. To which she replied, 'I shall keep it as long as I want.' WHO gives her the right to confiscate my magazine which I paid $6? Yes take it off me on the short term but not promising of returning it for a long time? That is simply not acceptable, it is the equivalent of stealing. It is the February issue of a magazine and I have yet to read it, I need that magazine to find a work experience placement and the fact I enjoy reading Vogue. So I stormed off and my friends and I both think the old bat could do with reading Vogue.... her wardrobe certainly needs help. I am just going to steal Vogue back as I am not putting up with waiting till she sees fit, aka next year.

I can see the purpose in confiscating items but some teachers take it to far and if they do confiscate items they should take _care_ of them. After all once they are confiscated they are put in the teachers care.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

I quit reading when you posted that you knew you were in the wrong. End of discussion as far as I'm concerned. The rest is just "it's not fair... waaaah"

[student]

I'm firstly going to state that I DO believe that items that could potentially cause distraction of any kid, or that are prohibited in the school, should be taken away. Now, although I agree with this, I do also believe that in many cases, teachers are taking the 'confiscation crisis' too far.

If a teacher is going to withold an item until the end of the day, term, year etc. then they should be held liable for the item until returned. It's the same concept as a repair place. If you take your car to be repaired and leave it with that company, you EXPECT it to be returned in the same, if not better, state as before. If someone has stolen your car should they not be held liable for the damages; after all it was in THEIR posession. Granted it's the students' fault for having out at an inapropriate time, they wouldn't have lost it or gotten it stolen...so the teacher should meet the same requirements.

I've known many teachers to complain when their personally bought items are stolen by a student for the lack of a locked classroom or lack of attention. Should we then tell them 'tuff stuff sister' and just expect them to replace the $200 item that they ALREADY paid for? In the instances I've seen, the administration does their BEST to find the culprit. Give the same consideration to the student. If you're going to not care about the item, then you shouldn't have confiscated it in the first place.

I guess I'm just heading back to the whole, 'you break it, you buy it' policy.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

teacher is suppossed to be treated that way, and over a student at that.

Either way, I am not responsible for items that I have to confiscate due to you repeatedly bringing it in, despite being told not to.

[student]

You guys aren't held reliable for much, other than maybe your own butts, so why not add some responsibility into your work environment?

[Unregistered]

What part of "DO NOT BRING TO SCHOOL" do you students not understand? If your school states that you are not allowed to bring certain items to school, then why are you so upset if you do and they're confiscated? Yes, I believe cell phones should be allowed, BUT...not turned on and NOT used! During school hours, they should be for emergency use only or if your parent needs to contact you for something you must know before school is over.

As for Ipods, CD players, etc...what the heck are you thinking? You are in school to L-E-A-R-N! Period! I see no reason for any of you whining that you lost something when it shouldn't have been there in the first place! If you MUST take it with you, then leave it in your locker and use it when (if) you're allowed, like at lunch. Otherwise, as far as I can see, it's your own fault if it's lost.

The analogy of leaving a car at a repair shop is ridiculous. Your car has to be there to be repaired. Your ipod doesn't have to be at school. Get a clue here...there are rules in this world that you may or may not agree with. There are rules I don't agree with, but if I want to keep my job or stay out of jail, I follow them. You're not going to find an employer who lets you read Vogue when you're working...why should you think that you can do that in a classroom? There are plenty of times I side with students, but this is NOT one of them!

[student]

Your statement has a point, I agree, but you need to take responsibility if you're going to be responsible enough to claim an item from the student! You shouldn't have the right to just break and lose a students personal items EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT ALLOWED! Maybe a student should just break your computer that has EVERYTHING on it? It's justified...you shouldn't have had it there in the first place!

[Unregistered]

I fail to see what your point is. If your school says certain items aren't allowed, then be adult enough to FOLLOW THE RULES! It's not rocket science! If my company says I can't eat at my desk, then I don't eat at my desk. I might not like it and I might think I could get more work done, but IT IS A RULE AND I HAVE TO FOLLOW IT OR I WON'T HAVE A JOB!

Seems simple enough to me...follow the rules and grow up! AND if you didn't have the item there in the first place, then the teacher wouldn't have to take it and it wouldn't be lost/broken. That also seems pretty simple to me...follow the rules, don't take it and it won't be lost!

[student]

Well, why doesn't someone just come and sideswipe your car, it shouldn't have been in their way in the first place! Just because it's THERE doesn't mean that the teacher has a right to destroy it. Just because you take it doesn't mean they ASK for you to break it! Please, I want one of your students to break your computer and watch you just 'accept that you were in the wrong by having it there'.

[Unregistered]

What part of don't take it to school don't you understand? I swear I've seen 4 year olds who comprehend better than you do! A teacher's computer belongs in school. Your ipod/CD player or whatever you're whining about doesn't! Grow up. Take yourself and your books and supplies to school and leave everything else at home where it belongs! End of discussion.

[student]

My art teacher allows that kind of equipment in his class because some say music will inhance creativity. If I have my ipod in my purse, and my teacher just wants to be a B**** then she can break it and get away with it for me not even using it....GREAT RULES! Everyone, teachers don't have to be responsible for anyone but themselves!!!! IF THEIR KIDS GET SHOT OR RAPED THEN THEY WERE ASKING FOR IT BY LETTING THEM HANG IN THE WRONG PLACE!!!!!!! (great deductive reasoning)

[Unregistered]

Ok, so your art teacher allows Ipods in her class. Obviously, then, that's not a problem. If it's in your purse the rest of the day, then no other teacher will find it or break it. Again, obviously, if a teacher finds it, then it's not in your purse...which is where it belongs! More deductive reasoning. Don't bother to join a debate team. Your logic isn't nearly as good as Mr. Spock's!

BTW, I seriously doubt a teacher will break anything belonging to a student! I will concede it's remotely POSSIBLE that something YOU should not have had in a certain area MAY have been broken or stolen, but again...if it hadn't been there, it wouldn't have happened.

[student]

FYI I placed in State Debate...thanks....

And my whole argument was that teachers should be held liable if an item is broken or stolen while in their posession....DUH!

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

FYI I placed in State Debate...thanks....

And my whole argument was that teachers should be held liable if an item is broken or stolen while in their posession....DUH!

Debate - fine

basic understanding - fail

don't be upset because we have every right to take it. I took a cell phone up today in fact. Serves the kid right

[student]

I'm not saying you can't take it away. (that's perfectly fine) But I'd expect it BACK eventually!

[Mr. H]

If a student is distracted or is distracting other students from learning, I will most definitely take it away from them.

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?Yep
2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated? i-pods, mobiles, toys, squirt guns, magazines/leisure reading, anything that becomes airborne.
3. When is it expected that the item be returned? Depends on the object. Books/magazines and mobiles can be collected after class. We have a rule against MP3 players in classes so they go to the office until the end of the day. Toys and squirt-guns are usually held hostage until the end of the semester.
4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property? If it's against the school rules for them to have them or use them... if it is distracting from learning.
5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes? yeah, sure, I really needed a squirt-gun. :o
6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property? I sure do and I'll be happy to print it out for any student in violation... and it's in my syllabus.
7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property? It is usually up to the teacher of the class.

I usually give them a warning before I take action. If the behavior continues, they are deprived of their stuff. If they have an issue with it, they can take it up with the principal. I'm always happy to explain what was going on.:D

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Well, the debate by the kids is designed to shift the focus away from the fact that they brought something they know they shouldn't have, to, who's responsible for their inability to follow those rules.

I am taking said items so I can provide a learning situation to everyone, including the knucklehead who brought in the ipod/cell phone, ect. IF it becomes broke while in my possession, or stolen, or whatever, then to me, it's an unfortunate side effect for your decision to bring it in the first place.

another issue we have is, there are parents out there who make teachers/admins lives a living Hell over items they aren't supposed to bring. Not because we confiscate them, but because another student steals it from them. Parents actually want the school to pay for the replacement (if the thief can't be found). Plus, given the cost of some of these items, they are major crimes that police have to get involved in. I can think of about a million things better that our SRO can deal with rather than an iPod that an 11 y.o. didn't have enough common sense to lock up or leave at home in the first place.

[student]

Well if it was still in the students' posession, they probably would have cared about it enough to the point where they wouldn't let it be stolen. Yes, I agree it shouldn't be in school, that's not the issue. The issue is, if it's going to be confiscated, then the person who took it should have to suffer the consequences for TAKING it in the first place. If you can't handle the responsibility of keeping track of it, you shouldn't have taken it in the first place.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Well if it was still in the students' posession, they probably would have cared about it enough to the point where they wouldn't let it be stolen. Yes, I agree it shouldn't be in school, that's not the issue. The issue is, if it's going to be confiscated, then the person who took it should have to suffer the consequences for TAKING it in the first place. If you can't handle the responsibility of keeping track of it, you shouldn't have taken it in the first place.

it being in school IS the issue...

plus, iPods, shoes, cell phones, books, get lost/stolen ALL THE TIME. Average students are unaware of it happening if it's not to them or a close friend, but teachers/admin have to hear about it EVERYDAY. They dress out for gym, but don't lock their stuff up, then expect the school to drop everything to find a lost/stolen iPod. parents in those situations, want the school to replace ipods/electronics when the student was the one who lost it. Of course, the student never "lost" it, it was always "stolen" :rolleyes:

Of course, had they not brought the stuff to school in the first place, they'd still have it.

[student]

I agree with that, however, if a teacher had broken it, or lost it, shouldn't they have to pay the SAME that a STUDENT broke another students' item would?

[student]

SAME *price* that a.....(etc)

[Mr. H]

That's why I send most of the valuable items directly to the office.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

I agree with that, however, if a teacher had broken it, or lost it, shouldn't they have to pay the SAME that a STUDENT broke another students' item would?

It's still your responsibility for that whatever. I'm not responsible if someone steals it, if you aren't willing to take that risk, leave the whatever at home.

[Unregistered]

I am 19, and just about to graduate in two weeks. I am married. A teacher confiscated my cell during class, and because I had it there, I am ok with that. What I do have a problem with is that they will not release it to me, though, even though I am a legal adult. ( by the way, I dont live with my parents, and have no idea where they are, anyways). My husband works until 6, and by then, the school is closed. We have no home phone, and I have a seizure disorder (similar to epilepsy, but not). I need to be able to reach my husband at all times, and without my cell, I cant. Oh, yeah, they also want us to pay them $20 to get my property back. I have never had to be disciplined for anything except an occasional tardy... so I dont get why they are not only "proving a point", but putting my life in danger. Does anyone know my rights???

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

I am 19, and just about to graduate in two weeks. I am married. A teacher confiscated my cell during class, and because I had it there, I am ok with that. What I do have a problem with is that they will not release it to me, though, even though I am a legal adult. ( by the way, I dont live with my parents, and have no idea where they are, anyways). My husband works until 6, and by then, the school is closed. We have no home phone, and I have a seizure disorder (similar to epilepsy, but not). I need to be able to reach my husband at all times, and without my cell, I cant. Oh, yeah, they also want us to pay them $20 to get my property back. I have never had to be disciplined for anything except an occasional tardy... so I dont get why they are not only "proving a point", but putting my life in danger. Does anyone know my rights???

So let me get this straight, when you are having a seizure, you are going to call your hubby? BS!!!11

I guess you are learning a life lesson (just because you are married doesn't mean learning stops). I guess you shouldn't have had the cell phone out. Besides, if you HAD to get ahold of your hubby, they didn't take his cell phone, use one of the 2000 landlines that your school has (not including the one up in the front office that students are supposed to use)

Being married, living on your own entitles you to nothing more than the 13 y.o. freshman. You are still a student. Read your student handbook, pay your $20 and keep that crap put up during class.

[Unregistered]

I will confiscage any items that cause the student to be off task. This may include games, toys, clothing (hats), candy, notes, etc. Often students will complain loudly: "You can't take my hat", or tell me I have no right. However, I have found that if I take the item and tell the student when s/he will get the item back, there is usually little or no fuss. "Pu the toy on my desk. You will get it back at recess / at the end of the day..."

[StuTeacher23]

I am working on an ethics project and would like to know your view on the practice of confiscating student property.

1. Have you confiscated property from a student?
2. If so, what types of items have you confiscated?
3. When is it expected that the item be returned?
4. What are the reasons for confiscating student property?
5. Have you ever used confiscated student property for your own purposes?
6. Do you know if your school or district has a policy addressing the confiscation of student property?
7. Do you know of any laws regarding the ability of public school personnel to confiscate student property?

Thanks! A gold star to anyone who can help me out on this! If you know of any articles dealing with this, please let me know!


1) Yes, I have confiscated items before.
2) Cell phones, iPods, and things like that.
3) You should return the item(s) at the end of the school day. If you return them to the student after class, they are just going to continue doing what they did before. The whole point of confiscating things is so it won't happen again and disruptions will stop.
4) Disrupting the class, disrupting the teacher, cell phone rings because it isn't turned off, listening to music during class, and text messaging during class.
5) No. You should never use someone else's property without permission. That is almost like having a student come up to your computer and start using it without asking. (My school forbids students from using the teacher computer though.)
6) Yes, in my school's Code of Conduct Regulation Book, there is a chapter on it.
Chapter 19: "Parent's must pick up the student property that has been confiscated by school administration, due to the infraction of discipline policies, within 48 hours from the school office. The [school name here] will not be liable for any property not picked up by parents within 48 hours of notification." Obviously this is only for items confiscated by school administration and not by teachers. Teachers usually hold onto them until the end of the day.
7) I don't know of any laws, but if it is in the school conduct book that we and the school can, then I guess that it is legal in Massachusetts (where I teach [duh!] ).

[Unregistered]

I'm the sort of student that would try and find any way that you (a teacher) taking away my cell phone, walkman, ect. is illegal. I probably wouldn't hesitate to try and get a teacher fired for doing that, if they did something I don't like. I'm sure there's other students like that...
The United Nations' list of the Universal Rights of Man says that you have the right to own property that no one can take away from you. So that should mean that a teacher confiscating my cell phone is illegal, right? Or at least against my rights.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

I'm the sort of student that would try and find any way that you (a teacher) taking away my cell phone, walkman, ect. is illegal. I probably wouldn't hesitate to try and get a teacher fired for doing that, if they did something I don't like. I'm sure there's other students like that...
The United Nations' list of the Universal Rights of Man says that you have the right to own property that no one can take away from you. So that should mean that a teacher confiscating my cell phone is illegal, right? Or at least against my rights.


bwaahaha. Times change, but kids never do.

1. "I'm going to get you fired"
2. "my mother/father is going to sue you"
"you're mean"
3. "why do I have to learn about this place, it's not like I'm ever going to go there, anyways"



1. Many have tried, but go ahead, entertain yourself
2. How much do you think teachers make :rolleyes:
3. that's the difference between career burger flippers and professionals

[Unregistered]

Yes I do take items from the students. I only collected one item this year and that was a toy. It was a mini skateboard that my student Audra was playing with. I confiscated it during science. I kept hearing this loud clicking and whirring noise. I haven't reported it to the principal or her parents and I probably won't. Last year I collected a whole bunch of mini skateboards from a boy named Wesley. Wesley got all of his back and his parents I told, and are making sure that they don't make it back into his backpack. I have to put up with a lot of toys because I have six children of my own. How Audra's mini skateboard got taken away was she had it out doing flips doing finger moves to make the skateboard do jumps right onto the hard surface of her desk. I walked over and stuck my hand out. Audra knew what I ment. She plopped the skateboard into my hands. "That's inappropriate," I said stuffing the skateboard into my pocket. I continued to teach my class. I forgot about the mini skateboard for the rest of the day. I'm pretty sure that Audra didn't forget about the skateboard. I found it in my pocket when I got home. I decided to give it to my three year old son Cameron. He is having a lot of fun playing with it. Audra hasn't asked for it, so I never returned it.

[Unregistered]

Yes I do confiscate items. Three girls Brandy, Ashley and Meredith I teach are constantly bringing little mini puppies called Puppy in My Pockets. First it started as out the girls would bring one then they would have a purse full of them. I try to teach my class, but I hear barking noises. I turn around and I see it. Brandy, Ashley and Meredith barking, moving little puppies around their desk playing with each other. Meredith sees me walk over to take them so she hides hers in her desk. The two girls hand me their purse. I walk over to Meredith. I reach my hands in her desk and take the purrse out. I stuff them in a drawer in my desk. I continue to teach my class. While the class is at lunch I put the three purses in my backpack carrier for teachers. For the rest of the day they are in my carrier. When I get home I took them out. I have six children. Four of them are girls. So I decide to let them play with the puppies until they can behave good so I can return the puppies. My four girls names are Ashley, Coral, Marissa and Briana. My two boys are Cameron and Matthew. Ashley, Brandy and Meredith live in my neighborhood so I decide to walk over to their houses and return them. Now instead of bringing the puppies to school to play, they go to each others house to play with the puppies.

[Unregistered]

Me and my friend Arden like to collect Pokemon Cards. I really need Prinplup! I have Empoleon and Piplup. Arden helps me out by making up a plan to steal a boy named Jeffrey's a boy in my class' Prinplup. I take my stack of Pokemon Cards in my backpack the next day at school. I ask Jeffrey to see his Pokemon Cards. I see what I want. I take Prinplup while Arden distracts him. I stuff it in my backpack. I give Jeffrey the rest of his cards. At recess Jeffrey noticed it was gone. He checked us first. We lied and said we didn't have it. The next day Jeffrey and his step dad came into the classroom. "Jeffrey which is the one with your card?" Jeffrey's step dad asked him. He pointed to us. They walked over to me. I claimed I didn't have it but that didn't stop Jeffrey. Jeffrey told the teacher. The teacher sent both me and Arden to the principal with our backpacks ready to go home. The principal questioned us but we never said we had the card. The principal called our mom's so they can pick us up. The principal told my mom to search my deck of pokemon cards and look for a card called Prinplup. My mom found the card and called the principal the same night. My mom wasn't very happy but she had to come to school and return it to the principal. The principal called my teacher on the school phone and said for her to send Jeffrey down to the office to get Prinplup. Jeffrey went to the principal with a hall pass. When he got back to the classroom he told me we were lying and that we would never see and or touch Prinplup ever again. So Jeffrey put Prinplup in his backpack and we never saw and or touch Prinplup again.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Me and my friend Arden like to collect Pokemon Cards. I really need Prinplup! I have Empoleon and Piplup. Arden helps me out by making up a plan to steal a boy named Jeffrey's a boy in my class' Prinplup. I take my stack of Pokemon Cards in my backpack the next day at school. I ask Jeffrey to see his Pokemon Cards. I see what I want. I take Prinplup while Arden distracts him. I stuff it in my backpack. I give Jeffrey the rest of his cards. At recess Jeffrey noticed it was gone. He checked us first. We lied and said we didn't have it. The next day Jeffrey and his step dad came into the classroom. "Jeffrey which is the one with your card?" Jeffrey's step dad asked him. He pointed to us. They walked over to me. I claimed I didn't have it but that didn't stop Jeffrey. Jeffrey told the teacher. The teacher sent both me and Arden to the principal with our backpacks ready to go home. The principal questioned us but we never said we had the card. The principal called our mom's so they can pick us up. The principal told my mom to search my deck of pokemon cards and look for a card called Prinplup. My mom found the card and called the principal the same night. My mom wasn't very happy but she had to come to school and return it to the principal. The principal called my teacher on the school phone and said for her to send Jeffrey down to the office to get Prinplup. Jeffrey went to the principal with a hall pass. When he got back to the classroom he told me we were lying and that we would never see and or touch Prinplup ever again. So Jeffrey put Prinplup in his backpack and we never saw and or touch Prinplup again.

Gotta catch them all, gotta catch them all

[Unregistered]

I have the same problem my teacher took away my laser pointer and gave it to the deen and the dean said I can never get it back.

[Unregistered]

I am so mad! My homeroom teacher took my tech deck mini skateboard. I'm playing with it during our holiday party. She doesn't mind at recess. Last time we had a party at school she didn't take away this other boy's. I'm getting it back! No matter what!

[Unregistered]

I am having this mental problem with the kids I teach. Almost everyone of the boys have these Tech Deck mini skateboards, two of the girls have them too. I am the teacher who confiscated a girl named Audra's and a boy named Wesley's. That confiscation story is posted up too. Now I have more kids buying these, so I guess I have more skaters in the class. Some of the kids play with them during certain subjects. Starting with the story of a girl named Bria with her tech deck. She always lets her friend, which also I teach, a girl named Joslyn play with it. Joslyn plays with it in her desk in all subjects. But one day when I walk over by her desk back to my desk to grade papers I see her dands in her desk with the tech deck steering it around and doing ollies in her desk. She did tricks small enough to fit in her desk. "Joslyn what's that," I ask her knowing it was a toy. Joslyn stared at me and stayed silent. "Give me it!" I said. I never said I would return it because I probaly wouldn't. It saves me money on toys for my six children. Now seven because I had my seventh on December 6th. It was a girl and her name was Caitlin Marie Sherman. Caitlin is too young for tech decks because they have parts that aren't good for her. The age range on the package says 9+. I keep the tech decks in my desk, so none of the children can sneak them out. Since the last problem with Audra's tech deck my three year old son Cameron who is my fifth child and oldest son, who I gave Audra's tech deck to he is having a fun time playing with it. I brought home more tech decks which I have confiscated from my students which added to his collection. After I gave the tech decks to my son I start to hear complaints from the parents saying that I took their tech deck mini skateboard toy. I reply to the parents saying I warned the children about toys and if I saw them they would be mine. I also said that I would get them back from my son and return it to the child. On Monday when I returned it to the student I gave them a good and a fair warning, next time they're out in my classroom they will be mine, for good.

[Unregistered]

I just found out that a girl I teach has been to this website complaining that I took her tech deck mini skateboard. And I did, it was during our holiday party. I do what one of these teachers on the website do. Give it to my children.

[Unregistered]

This has nothing to do with confiscation of toys but I'm telling this true story. It all started at school when we were at school and during our IWT (Idependent Work Time) lesson where we switch to another class, but I stay in homeroom but this girl named Esha Shah who switches from another class into mine, loves to be partners with my best friend Christina Zeitlen. I never get to be partners with Christina because of Esha. Esha, who I think is evil, and the devil's little helper, always gets called on first to choose her partner. When the teacher calls, "Esha, pick your partner!" The first words I hear out of Esha's mouth is "Christina!" When I get caught talking to Christina the teacher yells at me to work with my partner and stop talking with Christina, that makes me feel that I want to kill Esha or wish she was not even born! When we have to pick a parter to read our IWT book with Esha ends up with Christina. I'd be with Christina, but my teacher assigned Esha to sit next to Christina. So Esha's so close to Christina she could just say be partners to Christina before I can get out of my chair. Christina also thinks Esha is annoying. Esha drives the ever-living crap out of me! I'm begging Christina to tell Esha to leave her alone. We didn't have a chance during this time in IWT, but Esha rides my bus but sits a few seats behind me. Next time in IWT me and Christina are going to tell Esha, "Get the heck away from us!" But if I have to tell Esha I'll say, "Esha, Christina's my best friend and your not going to take her away from me, and that's final!" Posibilities are probably me and Christina telling that to Esha, maybe just Christina, or maybe even me! But either way it happens I'm getting Esha away from Christina, even if she tells the teacher! Even if its the very last thing! I can't wait to get revenge on Esha. I spend most of my time with Christina, she is in my class, and I don't mind Christina having other friends, but I do mind if that friend tries to steal Christina away from me! Revenge on Esha is going to be fun, trust me!

[Unregistered]

I got an mp3 player taken from me. I am going to go about it by getting it back by being presuasive. If I dont get it back then I will step my game up.

[Unregistered]

Students who are distracting a classroom with items they shouldn't have in school SHOULD have them confiscated. I feel sorry for those who have had something taken, but school is NOT the place for toys, games, etc, that are not directly connected to the class. I turn items I confiscate into the office. I think is it inexcusable, however, for a teacher to give a confiscated item to anyone but the office or the owner.

[Unregistered]

Our school is a uniform school, so the principal tells us to make sure that the students are wearing the appropriate clothes for the tempature outside. So if it was 30 degrees and someone came in shorts we had to send them down to the health room, so they can change into the school's clothes that were appropriate for the weather and the student would have to pack up the innapropriate clothes into his or her bookbag and keep it in their bookbag for the rest of the day. The next day students would have to return the school's clothing. For boys to wear shorts the tempature would have to be at least 50 degrees for the high (the high is always higher that 50 where I live) Bermuda shorts are longer than boy's shorts so for girls to wear bermuda shorts the tempature would have to be at least 45 degrees. For girls to wear shorts the tempature would have to be at least 60 degrees. So everyday at school the girls would be in bermuda shorts or shorts and the boys would be in shorts. Whenever will students wear pants.

[Unregistered]

Teenagers parents don't care what the teenager wears because the parents aren't going to freeze their *** off in the middle of winter. The teenagers should know not wear them sometimes because in some schools you have to wear uniforms and if the teenager chooses to wear the uniform with the shorts on the teacher will confiscate the shorts and the student will be sent to the health room to change their clothes.

[Unregistered]

I'm 16 and a sophomore at a Michigan public high school. I'm currently doing a speech about the restrictions of the first amendment in public high schools and I can understand why some things are against school policy but some things are just....ridiculous. I don't understand how hats are a distraction or in a lot of cases a "gang" sign. Some people argue that kids use hats to cheat on tests and alignments, my point is this if a students is going to cheat he or she will find a way. Today in class my art teacher confiscated an ipod even though the class was listening to the radio. Schools can try to censor what we listen to during school because some of the language in popular music is vulgar or inappropriate. This doesn’t stop kids from using this language....and sometimes even teachers. It surprises me how many teachers swear, but it doesn’t bother me. It bothers me more when teachers follow the schools rules when they even find them unnecessary or when they know a little to much about their students.

I'm not some failing student, im an important member of student council, BPA, and some other school organizations, and I still find all of this frustrating and binding. I always considered being a teacher but I would have a hard time following highschool rules. One of the best teachers was fired from my school because of this reason and now she’s a college professor, and all the kids I know that have graduated remember her class as the best class of their highschool carriers. Highschool like middle school forces all these rules on you and ensures that they are "preparing you for the next level" then when you move to the next level a lot of those rules don’t move with you.

[Kal]

i feel that the having mp3s and iPods aren't exactly distracting. For example, my afterschool chinese class is the loudest class you might ever see, there's people screaming and yelling at each other and its hard to get work done, even if its simply copying the word over and over. I put on my sound isolating earphones with an mp3 player on and thats the only way i can concentrate.
But one of these days, my science teacher came in, my chinese teacher doesn't mind us using mp3 players(she herself knows how loud it is in there), and he(science teacher) took it from me.
Now he has it and i'm not sure what to do. I asked him for it back but he said no you cannot have it back it shud not even be at school in the first place, it is against some chancellor regulation to have it anywhere in school grounds.
Just wondering, does confiscated items have to be given to someone like the principal or something? Because i don't want him to use my mp3 player for himself. I feel that thats just not right. I mean, everyone uses thier ipods in school.

[Unregistered]

During art class the, art teacher confiscated my tech deck miniature skateboard. I love to skateboard, but skateboards aren't aloud on campus at my school, so a miniature skateboard isn't a real skateboard. It's in the school Code of Conduct that if a teacher confiscates your property, they must return it. And thank goodness teachers don't look inside your bookbags. During a school party, I had another tech deck with me. The teacher confiscated that too. But I got one of them back because my mom sent and email telling the teacher to give it back. But the art teacher still has my other one. I wish I could do something to get it back. But ipods, mp3 players SHOULD be confiscated because while the teacher is trying to give instruction, you won't know what to do and some of your friends might say, you should have been listening. And some of them might tell the teacher if your school has a strict policy about them.

[Unregistered]

some of you teachers are completely retarded. the fact of the matter is that taking a students item with the intention of not returning it is considered stealing and you could be charged with theft if the student and or parents take legal action, i am not saying that this happens, but it can. it dose not matter if they should or should not have it at school in the first place, it is not the rite of the teacher to misuse there power. so to all you teachers who take student property, stop being bitter because you are getting paid ****************ty and most of the students have better lives than your own children so you feel the need to take there items and give them to your own children. i hate teachers....

[Unregistered]

Firm policies seem to limit problems from confiscating items, along with a logical rationale.

1. I have the right to teach uninterrupted in my classroom. Therefore, if a student is making a disruption, I have the right to remove the disruption from the classroom. If it is the student himself, he goes for a timeout. If it is an object, I confiscate the object.

2. Any objects confiscated may be reclaimed if I receive a parent signed note the next school day where the parent must acknowledge that the item was taken because the student was playing with it during instruction. I am in the business of teaching, not storage. I cannot guarantee that I will have the object after the next school day, besides, I was not ever contracted or paid to store the child's item, I am paid to teach.

I have occasionally agreed to keep an item an extra day when I got a parent signed not just asking for the object back, not mentioning it was taken during a lesson. Each time I did not receive the follow up note nor any sort of parent contact to say I must return the object--instead the student said, "My mom says you can keep the board since I shouldn't have played with it during class" or the parent said at the next time I talked to them that their child tried to lead them to think that I just saw it and took it, not that it was disrupting a lesson.

[BjWeihe]

I am so made this on teacher in th office found out i had this pic of this girl that she put on myspace on my psp. He called up to the class room and came up, then confiscated it from me. then later after study hall i went down to the office and he said that someone said i hade a pic of her and it was photo shoped which is such a lie its not even funny. So he said he would have to show it to her parents and find out if it real or not. He didnt say when i would get it back. And u know whats the funny thing is, is that i dont even know how to make it look that real that you cant tell the differenct between photoshopped and real. All i use it paint and that you cant make it look good.

[Unregistered]

To all the boneheaded teachers, or apparent teachers, posting how they will confiscate, but not return (toss away, give to their own kids, etc.) this is clearly an ILLEGAL practice. If the matter were pressed into legal action you WILL certain lose the case. There are well-established precedence and guidelines governing the limits of 'reasonability' when it comes to the failure to return a confiscated PIECE OF PROPERTY to it's LEGAL owner. Reasonable is widely accepted to be end of class or school day. Willfully keeping the property beyond those terms? You're on thin ice. KEEPING/Disposing of the property, unless it is generally accepted as being 'worthless' (piece of paper with inappropriate writing, etc.) then you are breaking the law, exposing yourself and/or school to prosecution for what amounts to THEFT.

You do NOT have the legal authority to do that... in fact, even if the school POLICY says you can, the policy cannot protect you (that policy wouldn't pass legal muster).

So, get off your high horses and quit abusing your faux power by taking items away without returning them. You cannot take away indefinitely any items of value (toys, phones, ipods, trading cards, etc.) and the length of confiscation MUST be 'reasonable' (widely established as end-of-class or end-of-day) and the property MUST be available for return (either directly to student, or via parental pickup). You (the teacher.. or the school/school board) cannot simply make up your own policy that is inconsistent the the LAW. For example, claiming "if I see that one more time, you are not going to get it back", while possessing a potential 'worthiness' as a 'threat', is NOT a legal action, if carried out. The property MUST be returned. This is well established LAW, here in the U.S.

Also, o claim you have no responsibility for securing it's safety, during the confiscated period, is also WRONG. You do have a 'reasonable' (and legal!) obligation to safeguard what you have taken into your possession and does NOT belong to you. Valuables must be reasonably protected from theft/damage, until properly returned. There IS some (limited) liability associated with confiscated property. If a perfectly function ipod (for example) were taken and then broken during the confiscation period the SCHOOL (probably NOT the teacher, directly) would be held responsible, should the student/parents wish to pursue the matter, legally. Taking property comes with it's OBLIGATIONS. "I don't get paid to safeguard" their stuff doesn't cut it, in a lawsuit.

Get in the game and play it right. Otherwise, one day you will confiscate MY kid's stuff incorrectly and I will make it my job to see you out the door of my school system.

'Want fries with that'? Better start practicing now, because that's where you could be headed.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

please keep up, noone has mentioned keeping confiscated items. This thread is about whiny kids who get stuff they shouldn't have out, taken up, and then trying to get the teacher to buy them a new item when another kid steals it out of the teacher desk. I'm not responsible for your stuff because you refuse to follow the rules.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Get in the game and play it right. Otherwise, one day you will confiscate MY kid's stuff incorrectly and I will make it my job to see you out the door of my school system.

'Want fries with that'? Better start practicing now, because that's where you could be headed.[/QUOTE]

Sheesh! Talk about overkill--not to mention slightly skewed priorities.

[Unregistered]

To the teachers who claim that they bear no responsibility for confiscated items,

According to your logic, if I parked my car in a "no parking" zone, and it was stolen, the insurance company wouldn't cover it.

Or, if my car was towed/impounded and was damaged in the process, the towing company has no liability.

"Strict liability is a legal doctrine that makes a person responsible for the damage and loss caused by his/her acts and omissions regardless of culpability..." NOTE: "regardless of culpability..."

"In tort law, strict liability is the imposition of liability on a party without a finding of fault (such as negligence or tortious intent). The plaintiff needs to prove only that the tort happened and that the defendant was responsible."

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

To the teachers who claim that they bear no responsibility for confiscated items,

According to your logic, if I parked my car in a "no parking" zone, and it was stolen, the insurance company wouldn't cover it.

Or, if my car was towed/impounded and was damaged in the process, the towing company has no liability.

"Strict liability is a legal doctrine that makes a person responsible for the damage and loss caused by his/her acts and omissions regardless of culpability..." NOTE: "regardless of culpability..."

"In tort law, strict liability is the imposition of liability on a party without a finding of fault (such as negligence or tortious intent). The plaintiff needs to prove only that the tort happened and that the defendant was responsible."

nope all that has to be proven is that the item was interupting the educational process to either the kid personally, or others around them. I can't help it if someone steals it out of my desk. I'm not responsible for it. I would simply write the kid up who stole it, if I found out who was responsible.

Tow companies aren't responsible for damages occurred from proper towing (not saying they can drive your car around hotrodding, or anything). You shouldn't have got it towed off.

[Unregistered]

please keep up, noone has mentioned keeping confiscated items. This thread is about whiny kids who get stuff they shouldn't have out, taken up, and then trying to get the teacher to buy them a new item when another kid steals it out of the teacher desk. I'm not responsible for your stuff because you refuse to follow the rules.


CNO, do you even read the threads? One poster mentioned keeping Tek Decks and giving them to her 6 kids. You're the one who came up with the "stealing it out of a teacher's desk". I assume the poster was referring to the person who essentially said she took the items with the intent of increasing her son's toy supply.

As for your assertion, you're correct, if you can show keeping it in your (unlocked?) desk was reasonable. But to tell the truth, it will never come to a court case. A motivated parent will demand the school replace the item, and the school will comply unless they want to be dragged to small claims court. If it's a $200 ipod, the parent can take the school to court for $35, and the school would have to pay out ~$1000 for the lawyer, and whatever they'd need pay to sub for anyone who needed to be in court. The parent wouldn't even need to show up if all they wanted to do is get revenge on the school -- the lawyer and subs would have to be paid for in advance. That's not to mention bad publicity should the media pick up the story of a teacher stealing items from a student. The cost-benefit analysis is simple: it makes sense for the school to replace the item, even if it was stolen and the teacher took every reasonable precaution.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE= The cost-benefit analysis is simple: it makes sense for the school to replace the item, even if it was stolen and the teacher took every reasonable precaution.[/QUOTE]

Too true!!!

[Unregistered]

It's bad enough to that kids are forced by law to attend school. It's even worse that the items they take with them to make that time more bearable can be confiscated. School environments are dysfunctional, sick and toxic. I hardly blame a poor kid for wanting a cell phone or MP3 player to get them through such an environment. Put yourself in the student's place for five minutes and see how much you like it. I bet you won't!

To me, confiscation is theft under color of authority. It's not acceptable at all. I think students should stand up for their rights and simply refuse to hand items over.

[Unregistered]

It's bad enough to that kids are forced by law to attend school. It's even worse that the items they take with them to make that time more bearable can be confiscated. School environments are dysfunctional, sick and toxic. I hardly blame a poor kid for wanting a cell phone or MP3 player to get them through such an environment. Put yourself in the student's place for five minutes and see how much you like it. I bet you won't!

To me, confiscation is theft under color of authority. It's not acceptable at all. I think students should stand up for their rights and simply refuse to hand items over.

I am so sorry that you find your school environment so "dysfunctional, sick and toxic" that you feel you need a cell phone or MP3 player to get through it. I truly mean this. You speak articulately and with sincerity. (Your grammar and spelling are good, too). Yours is not the all-too-common "Skool suks. All U techers r dum! We want it so we should have it" nonsense we often get from students who choose to post here and who merely prove a teacher's case for him. Your writing commands that you be taken seriously.

I must point out that you are not qualified to judge all schools, and probably not all classes at your school, but only those you have experienced. Though I'm sure there are harmful teachers/classes/administrators out there, I suspect that *most* educational environments are not as "toxic" to most students as they seem to be to you. In fact, I know that many classes are beneficial to many students. Clearly your particular needs are not being met, however, and that is a shame. You deserve a challenging, stimulating educational experience. I hope that, before you finish your formal education, you get a shot at some of the good stuff and that, when you do, you make the most of it.

[Unregistered]

Grrr, this started two days ago when my student Taylor brought in a Tech Deck. I told her to put it away and she did. The next day, the boy who sits next to her, David, brings in his Tech Deck. On the third day, The boy behind Taylor and David, Jalek, brigs in his Tech Deck. I hear loud annoying clicking noises ALL day. It's rainy outside, so we have indoor recess and the three are using whiteboards and making little Tech Deck parks, and got one of Jalek's friend Ritchie to bring in a Tech Deck tomorrow. And in indoor recess they are popping flips and ollies and 360s right on the hard floor and making little skate parks. And Opera Charlotte came to our school for the play 'Little Red Riding Hood' in Opera. They Tech Deck ALL through the performance and check to see if I'm looking at them and when I am looking at them, they quickly hide them between their legs and PRETEND to watch the opera. We're 5th graders but if this becomes a REAL big problem, I'll have to confiscate this little objects. Yesterday, I confiscated a Rubik's Cube from Patrick. And the day before, told Joe to stop playing with his Rubik's Cube. We have a class mascot (Build-A-Bear) named Chad, which Shane brought in, that we use and Mrs. Damare', our principal, is having trouble keeping up with the class mascots, since our class copied Ms. Hensley's 5th grade class' Teddy bears Benjamin and Mikey. Benjamin, they're sending around the world, and keeping Mikey. And Mrs. O'Hagan's 5th grade class is copying both of us with their to bears, Michelle and a kitty. Mikey is a bear, Benjamin is a bear, Chad is a monkey and Michelle is a monkey and the kitty is the kitty. Too much toys madness! My class is mentally the MAIN 5th grade class going on with some action. :( Well if this toy problem gets bigger we'll have to get Mrs. Damare' to stop yelling at the kids at lunch for talking. We're, Ballantyne Elementary and we're a brand-new school. HELP!! It's madness


- Jennifer Bencho (Mrs. Bencho) 5th grade teacher

[Unregistered]

There's something funny that happened in class today, I'm not specifying as to where and when, but I will elaborate upon quite what happened. Another student in my classroom often has around-ear headphones around his neck, and one of the others who sits next to him obviously has a problem with the former mentioned. During class, we often have, 'Teacher, xxxx is listening to music.' Now, this has happened twice without really being worth mentioned, but, last time, something interesting happened. The student stood up, walked to the teacher, put one of the headphone's to his ear and said, 'Do you hear anything?' At first, my teacher mumbled the response. Eventually, we heard a 'No.' Now, from a student's perspective, there is nothing better in school than a teacher getting flustered by a student, and even more so if the student was about to be in trouble. If a student hands you an item after another student tells you that it was on/working, you should check to see if it's on.
Another thing, I saw someone talking about the laws, well, only a POLICE officer has the right to search a student, however, you are capable of searching a locker, not a book-bag they have on their person. Moreover, if you confiscate a cell-phone, you do not have the right to look through it, or call through it. You're breaking the law if you do.
Now, there's one other thing: after reading this forum, I gotta say, do a few of you teachers even try using proper grammar? God, it's like the internet makes everyone into five year-olds behind computers.

[Unregistered]

Excuse me for double posting and being a tangent, but I had a thought as I surfed about and eventually returned to this site: why is the student listening to music or texting in class? Well, that's a question you should ask yourself.
Let's say you teach science with a block/class that's very disruptive. Now, consider the following stereotypes (Nothing is wrong with stereotyping, and they wouldn't exist if for the most part they weren't true)
A: the general sheep, do I have to elaborate?
B: the 'Brighter' ones, or those who you have in your class that are ahead of the game, really. They enjoy learning, etc, but can be a problem.
C: the 'socialites', don't take this one outside of context, but, the types that simply don't stop, cause major disruptions, and are like A.D.D. children(You know it's a desired trait in nature?)
D: Trouble makers, these are on a scale, and I shouldn't have to elaborate on this one, either.
Now, let's say that you often have to stop this class because of 'disruptions,' etc. Now, if this happens often enough, if you can't guess which ones are going to be listening to music. The bright ones! Why? Because you're not keeping the student's interested, and the bright ones can be the most patient, but when you lose 'em, you lose 'em for good. If you happen to take an item from one of these students, call them up after class and ask them why. These students will probably tell you that you're just not keeping them interested, or something along those lines.
Next up is the social ones, chances are that you're going to not really be able to fix this problem, but, there is something that might help. At the beginning of the school year/semester, buy a cheap-o twenty dollar phone and before class, pick the right student(one of the brighter kids, these guys will go along with a plan so they can snicker as everyone else winces) and slip them the phone, and tell them to make it look like they're texting. What you do? That's up to you, but, preferably, something violent that involves phone-smashing. This'll keep 'em in line, especially if they never find out.
Finally, yes, finally, the sheeple don't do wrong, do they? The trouble makers. These students, depending on their personality, can or can't be fixed. That's for you to figure out, each one is different, but they all follow the same, pathetic, and above all, annoying god damn patterns. Now, I say, go for it, but I can point out something: the hippy. Now, these guys probably are pissed off because YOU aren't respecting them, consider that bit. No, I'm not saying anything about myself. >.>;

[marleyfan]

Put yourself in the student's place for five minutes and see how much you like it. I bet you won't!


Ummm....I HAVE been in the student's place. Actually ALL of us have. I, and many others, have been through school and managed to do so without the need to bring "toys" to school. Those who did and had it confiscated (temporarily) lived with the consequences of their actions. So what if you lose your ipod until the end of the day.

On another note, the problem I see with this forum is that it seems that you don't have to register in order to post. That means that any 12 yr old with an axe to grind against teachers can come on here and spew anything they want. This is not directed specifically at the poster I quoted, but at the many others (see post #86 for example) who have derailed the usefulness of this forum. Make registration necessary!

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Ummm....I HAVE been in the student's place. Actually ALL of us have. I, and many others, have been through school and managed to do so without the need to bring "toys" to school. Those who did and had it confiscated (temporarily) lived with the consequences of their actions. So what if you lose your ipod until the end of the day.

On another note, the problem I see with this forum is that it seems that you don't have to register in order to post. That means that any 12 yr old with an axe to grind against teachers can come on here and spew anything they want. This is not directed specifically at the poster I quoted, but at the many others (see post #86 for example) who have derailed the usefulness of this forum. Make registration necessary!

that sounds like you are only interested in control. :rolleyes:

[Unregistered]

I find this whole, "I'm too irrisponsible to leave my stuff at home, now you take care of it for me" arguement idiotic. If you actually care about your toys then leave them at home.

[Unregistered]

I can ttechdeck in my at. Class

[Unregistered]

Well, the packet a the beginning of the year that comes, containing the teacher's right to confiscate pretty much anything, is forced on us students to sign. I am pretty sure, but cannot find a source, that if you are forced to sign something ( ie. someone holds a gun to your head and says " Sign this" ) it is not binding. Never tried to not sign the packet, pretty sure it is not pretty. Never tried to cross out the confiscation things either. Please tell me, anyone who has tried this. It would be cool to walk up to the teacher, cell-phone in hand. :]

Question:
I was absent for the days my teacher went over the work. She expects me to take the test tommrow ( Poetry terms ) What do I do, nothing is covered in the handbook as I am not going to be absent for the test.

[Unregistered]

Well, the packet a the beginning of the year that comes, containing the teacher's right to confiscate pretty much anything, is forced on us students to sign. I am pretty sure, but cannot find a source, that if you are forced to sign something ( ie. someone holds a gun to your head and says " Sign this" ) it is not binding. Never tried to not sign the packet, pretty sure it is not pretty. Never tried to cross out the confiscation things either.




Signing does not mean that you agree to the policy, it means that you understand the policy. As a student you do not get to choose the rules-you just have to understand and follow them.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

A kid thinking he doesn't have to follow the rules and guidelines because it inconveniences him. How rich.


Kids thinking they have the same rights as adults - also rich

[Unregistered]

My son's phone was confiscated after he accidentally carried it to school with him in him pocket. A telemarketer called, and that is when he realized he had the phone on his person. The teacher confiscated it and gave it to the principal, and when I called about coming to pick it up was told that I wouldn't be able to do so until the end of the year! I called the superintendent, and was told it was school policy. So I called the police, and they told me it was school policy. I called a lawyer, and was told that it was school policy. That I could sue, but because it was policy, the judge might rule in favor of the school. I've gone to the school board members (those who could be contacted), and it'll be brought up at the next meeting, but short of hiring an expensive lawyer I feel like my hands are tied. Any advice?

[Unregistered]

My son's phone was confiscated after he accidentally carried it to school with him in him pocket. A telemarketer called, and that is when he realized he had the phone on his person. The teacher confiscated it and gave it to the principal, and when I called about coming to pick it up was told that I wouldn't be able to do so until the end of the year! I called the superintendent, and was told it was school policy. So I called the police, and they told me it was school policy. I called a lawyer, and was told that it was school policy. That I could sue, but because it was policy, the judge might rule in favor of the school. I've gone to the school board members (those who could be contacted), and it'll be brought up at the next meeting, but short of hiring an expensive lawyer I feel like my hands are tied. Any advice?







I would look into this more closely if I were you. It is rare for a telemarketer to call cell phones so that part of the story is probably a fabrication. Why do you think he made it up? Or more importantly, what was he doing to get it taken away? Most teachers have an, if I don't see it (the phone) then I am not going to take it up attitude. Most importantly, why did your child know you were going to buy this obviously made up story?, and what have your subsequent behaviors taught your son?

[Unregistered]

I would look into this more closely if I were you. It is rare for a telemarketer to call cell phones so that part of the story is probably a fabrication. Why do you think he made it up? Or more importantly, what was he doing to get it taken away? Most teachers have an, if I don't see it (the phone) then I am not going to take it up attitude. Most importantly, why did your child know you were going to buy this obviously made up story?, and what have your subsequent behaviors taught your son?

Wow, it's incredible how you just decide what's "important".

Okay, let's change it and say he was getting a phone call from his girlfriend, while skipping class and smoking in the school parking lot.

It does not change the legal ramifications of the return of the property to the parent at all. The school is still legally obligated to return the phone. How the teacher discovered the phone is entirely irrelevant to this.

Whether they can keep it until the end of the year is highly questionable. I would write up a small claims case and send it to the school. Figure out what the bills would be to have a replacement cell phone during that time, and any other charges you can think of (purchase of a phone, cost of transferring the calling plan, etc.), and send the papers to the administrative office. Tell them you'll send them to the newspaper and the court in a weeks' time unless you hear from them.

[Unregistered]

At my high school you are aloud to wear hats, however my hat was taken away from a sub and was not given to the teacher or administration. All I did was wear it and it was a nice 35 dollar quicksilver hat. I told the school to replace it if the sub could not be contacted since i figured it was their responsibility since they hired her, they told me they will keep on trying to contact her but they would not give me my compensation even after showing them my receipt and having everyone in the class I was in sign a sheet saying that was what happened. What should i do?

[luaret]

today my science teacher took my friend's and my notebook because my friend was taking a paper out of it during a video when really she was going to take notes about the video and ,with my geography teacher, searched through the whole thing.I know because she talked about it in my geography class.The notebook was really personal to us because it was our friendship book and we write our minds in there and she didn't give it to us by the end of the period or the day.
I think it was unreasonable to take it away.
We don't know how to get it back,help?

[Mr. Yu]

Why would school children be digging up very old threads on a forum like this to complain about such matters? It seems more than a little odd.

[Unregistered]

i believe that this is a serious issue and the only reason teachers don't see the significance is because they are not having their personal property taken form them and never having it returned. at my school you can use cell phones in certain places like the cafeteria which i think is great but teachers are allowed to answer their cell phones during class and it perfectly fine but if i even reach in my pocket to check the time i'm missing my cell for the rest of the day. come on teachers is that really fair?

[Mr. Yu]

i believe that this is a serious issue and the only reason teachers don't see the significance is because they are not having their personal property taken form them and never having it returned. at my school you can use cell phones in certain places like the cafeteria which i think is great but teachers are allowed to answer their cell phones during class and it perfectly fine but if i even reach in my pocket to check the time i'm missing my cell for the rest of the day. come on teachers is that really fair?

Do teachers go over to teen discussion forums to rant about all the annoying things their pupils do? Then why there so many posts like this hear?

At any rate, if you really are a kid you'll love this story. I once took a phone away from a girl who at first refused to give it to me and then muttered what sounded like a naughty word as I was walking away (she denied swearing). After the lesson, instead of making her write lines and then receive her phone back at the end of the day as I usually would I gave it to her homeroom teacher and complained about what happened. Her homeroom teacher hates students hiding phones and collects them all at the beginning of the day and then hands them back after school. Well, when she came up to me outside the staff room asking for her phone back and I told her who now had it and why you should have seen the look on her face. You would have thought she had just been sentenced to prison. Two weeks later she came up to me begging me to ask her homeroom teacher to let her have it back, as it was still locked up in his desk. I have no idea when she got it back or if she even did before the end of the school year.

A rather costly text and (I'm fairly certain) swear word, eh?

[Unregistered]

Luckily, we have plenty of homeless people who have benefited from their losses. As far as I know, there is no "law" of jurisdiciton preventing the indiividual schools from enforcing their own "law' with regard to confiscating property. [/QUOTE]

So you are giving homeless people cell phones that belonged to students who's parents are paying for their cell phone service? I'm sure those parents are REALLY happy. If I was a parent of any particular student in that situation, I would not turn a blind eye to that. I'm sure there must be some laws against this.

If anyone would have some useful information on laws about this, please quote and link. I'm doing a Student Congress bill on this, and I need to know if you are 18, paying for your own cell phone bill, and attending high school if it is illegal for that school to confiscate your phone.

[Unregistered]

I quit reading when you posted that you knew you were in the wrong. End of discussion as far as I'm concerned. The rest is just "it's not fair... waaaah"

Yeah that's because you're probably a teacher yourself, and your opinion is like an ****************************. Everyone has one. Newbfag.

[Unregistered]

Chocolate New Orleans, how do you feel about a girl who had an insulin pump ripped out of her side because the principal thought it was a cell phone?

[Mr. Yu]

Chocolate New Orleans, how do you feel about a girl who had an insulin pump ripped out of her side because the principal thought it was a cell phone?

Could you provide a link?

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

oh I missed that little nugget. Yes, link is DEFINATELY required for an assertion like that..... :rolleyes:

[Mr. Yu]

oh I missed that little nugget. Yes, link is DEFINATELY required for an assertion like that..... :rolleyes:

It rings of urban myth to me. In any case, I can say with some certainty it would never happen at my school. The principal would never be bothered with something so trivial and it would go no further than her homeroom teacher, who would know she had an insulin pump.

We also have very little obesity and hence much less diabetes. Chips and ketchup don't count as two vegetables for the school lunch.