How far can you take your rights in School?

           Certain incidents happen which make us questions how far we are allowed to take our rights and what we can do if someone violates them. As an example, we have the right to not show anyone our items to be searched if the searcher does not have a search warrant. A certain case that might pop up in people heads would be the New Jersey VS TLO case.

  TLO Vs New Jersey is a case that makes people question what rights children really have when at school, specifically the first amendment and people's freedom of speech at school.  

TLO argued that her rights were violated when the school principle searched her purse for more drugs without a warrant when she was found smoking in the bathroom with her friend. Her friend owned up to it and said they were smoking but TLO did not. This is what caused the school principle to search her purse, because she did not believe TLO. When the principle found rolled up paper and number of TLO's clients, she was called to the cops and charged with the possession of Marijuana. TLO argued that her rights were violated, in that she did not allow the principle to check her purse, nor did the principle have a search warrant to do so. Before the trial,TLO wanted to suppress the evidence but the court denied. This makes us question, was TLO's reason valid when she mentioned that her rights had been violated? Personally, I think that TLO had a valid reason when she said that her rights had been violated when being searched. The principle checked her bag without a search warrant which is against the law. Even if TLO had denied, she should have been taken to the police and dealt with them instead of the principle forcing to check TLO's bag. 

Overall, I think that people have the right to refuse to have their items searched if the searcher does not have a search warrant. However, I think if there is a search warrant present, then it is ok for the person to be searched if they have done something suspicious.

sources:New Jersey VS TLO case.

https://www.oyez.org/cases/1983/83-712