Story Archive

Shake Your Contraband

“What exactly has been going on” at Serrano Middle School, asked Anita Wilson-Pringle, “because surely these two kids are not the first?” It wasn’t even the first time for her, her daughter told her — having to take off her jacket and shirt, pull off her bra, and shake her breasts for officials at the Highland, Calif., school. She and a friend, ages 13 and 15, had to put on the same display, Wilson-Pringle said; one protested and was allegedly told refusing could get her arrested. One of the officials watching was a man, Wilson-Pringle said. Pot was found in her daughter’s bag, but she denied owning it, and her mother said the bag was left unattended for 40 minutes. The girl got a ticket, a court date, and a way out of the school: her mother, who posted online about the incident and says she’s considering a lawsuit, said her daughter will now be home-schooled to avoid retaliation. A district spokeswoman said, “Our number one priority is to keep students safe and create an environment that is free from weapons and drugs.” (AC/San Bernardino Sun, KTLA Los Angeles) ...Why is it so often the people who want to “keep students safe” are the people students need to be kept safe from?