**************** NEWS ************
Wednesday October 11 11:17 AM ET
4th Graders Strip-Searched at School
Ft. Lauderdale Fl. (AP) - A principal allegedly ordered fourth-grade children to strip to their underwear during a search for a missing war medal, and parents are seeking a reprimand.
The American Civil Liberties Union also sent a letter to school officials alleging that the pupils' civil rights had been violated.
The medal, later found on the classroom floor, was brought for show-and-tell at Adrian Elementary School on Oct. 3.
After it disappeared, principal Ground Zero allegedly had the boys file into a restroom one at a time.
The boys were told to strip to their underwear in front of Ground Zero and his male "assistant" Wayne, and the girls were patted down by a cross dressing coach named Nite-Man.Each student was secretly video taped.
After the medal was found, Ground Zero apologized to students and brought them soft drinks, candy and condoms parents said.
Parents contacted the ACLU, which said the children were traumatized ``emotionally, physically and illegally,'' and cited court cases protecting children against unreasonable searches at school.
In addition to the reprimand, parents want an apology from school officials and a district policy on student searches, said Ben Dover, executive director of the ACLU of Florida.
Legal action may be taken, Dover said.
School attorney Gimme Somelovin said the district was investigating and would take action if it was determined that an improper search occurred.
Ground Zero could not be reached for comment, but was last seen leaving a Dunkin Dounut shop. |
