Teachers have the right to confiscate your phone or other items if they feel they are distracting you or other classmates and will usually return them to you at the end of the class or day. By knowing the school rules, you can make sure you don't break any rules and make sure that your belongings are not seized or searched in violation of your rights.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Interacting With Teachers Taking Your Stuff
Step 1. Come to class prepared and ready to pay attention
Be willing to learn during the lesson by sitting in your seat looking forward and listening when the teacher explains; Also, make sure you arrive at class with everything you need, including your homework and everything you need to take notes or work in class.
Always do your best in academic performance - even if you have difficulty in some subjects, your teacher will be happy to see you work hard
Step 2. Leave your phone in your backpack (or locker, if you have one available)
Never use the phone while you are in the classroom: many schools, in fact, explicitly allow teachers to confiscate students' phones if they use it in class. If you really need to bring your phone to class, be sure to turn it off or leave it on silent and not keep it in sight, then put it in your backpack or under the desk.
After all, you know very well that using the phone during a lesson is a lack of respect towards the teacher, the classmates and even yourself, because it will lead to both you and your classmates distracting
Step 3. Have excellent conduct
Some teachers pay particular attention to the behavior of their students in class; be especially polite during the lessons of those teachers who get easily irritated, because they are the ones most likely to criticize the lack of education among today's youth and tend to confiscate items.
Raise your hand and ask a question at least once for each lesson, so you show that you are interested and appreciate the teacher's contribution to your education
Step 4. Deliver the item that is asked if you have broken the rules
Admit that most teachers don't want to put their students in trouble, but it's simply their job to allow you and your peers to learn without danger or distraction. For example, if you have been caught texting on your cell phone during class, you understand that the teacher has the right to ask you to hand over the phone and put it in a safe place where you cannot pick it up.
- Don't argue with teachers in the presence of your classmates.
- Apologize for distracting the class and give the teacher the item he asked for.
- Ask for the item to be returned after the lesson; if you ask as a mature person, you will get it more easily.
Step 5. Ask the teacher to return your items to you immediately after class
If you were texting or breaking a rule in some other way, apologize and promise not to do it again; be polite to avoid making the situation worse and facilitate the return of the item instead.
- Try saying something like, "I apologize for allowing myself to be distracted during the lesson. I'll put the phone in my backpack and leave it there until the lesson is over."
- If the teacher tells you they want to keep it until the end of the day, ask again later.
- If the teacher does not return it to you at the end of the day, contact another teacher you trust, a parent or guardian.
Step 6. In case the teacher only confiscates your items, you should do something to resolve the situation
If a teacher does not behave fairly with you, you will need to talk to other school officials - if they seize or threaten to confiscate items only from you and no one else, this is probably a problem that needs to be solved. First, talk directly to the teacher in question: ask why you are being treated differently and, above all, if you behaved incorrectly in class.
If you do not feel comfortable discussing such topics with your teacher or you try but the situation does not smooth out, talk to the Principal or another teacher you trust
Method 2 of 4: Inquire about the Regulations Regarding Seizure of Personal Effects
Step 1. Read the school rules
Study the school regulations carefully to understand what you can and what you cannot bring to school; knowing the rules will also allow you to argue with the teacher who seized something from you.
In other words: the simplest way to avoid a teacher kidnapping something is to respect the rules about it
Step 2. Defend yourself if you haven't broken the rules or a teacher doesn't behave fairly
When a teacher takes action (or threatens to do so) without you breaking any rules, point it out, but remember that you will only get something if you know the rules.
- Alternatively, if you've broken a minor rule that doesn't involve seizing an item, you can calmly point it out by saying something like, "I apologize for being distracted, put it away and never do it again."
- If you refuse to hand over an item, know that a teacher cannot take anything by force; however, if you refuse to deliver an item for which you broke a rule, you could risk further disciplinary action.
Step 3. Immediately notify an adult if a teacher behaves inappropriately
You have an obligation to respect the rules when you are in school, just as the teacher has a duty to enforce them; however, let someone know immediately if a teacher should do something that you think they are not allowed to do.
- Teachers too must respect the rules in what they do and act according to the criteria of safety and education.
- A teacher must never use force on yourself or others.
- A teacher must never break or damage any of your items.
- If no one is dealing with your complaint in the presidency, immediately ask to call a parent or guardian.
- If you don't get permission to call, report the incident as soon as possible to a trusted adult, such as another teacher, parent, or guardian.
- Consult with your older brother or a relative older than you when you are not sure how something happened and you don't know whether to tell others.
Method 3 of 4: Avoid Suspicions About Your Items
Step 1. Prove that you haven't done anything wrong
If you are not guilty of something, it is worth proving it. A teacher or official cannot forcibly search you: you can always refuse or ask to call your parents; however, if you have nothing to hide, allow your teacher to quickly check your stuff.
- School officials can search you or your belongings if they have well-founded and specific suspicions that you have broken a rule, and they can do so even if you propose it of your own free will.
- An official who has seen, heard, or smelled something strange will have valid reason to suspect you.
- Suspicions justifying a search must be reported directly to you: for example, if a friend of yours is in trouble and they decide to search your belongings as well, they cannot do so, unless there is clear evidence of your direct involvement.
Step 2. If you have a locker at school, you cannot store items that are not allowed to take to school
You should know that lockers are usually considered to be the property of the school, so they can be checked at any time, whether there is a suspicion or not.
If you put your mobile phone or computer in the locker, these items cannot be searched without a valid and specific reason unless you give your consent or there is an order
Step 3. Leave large sums of money at home
Having a lot of money on you can intrigue or worry teachers as well as officials as to why you have it, so do the shopping that requires large amounts of money away from school hours so as not to put yourself or teachers in trouble.
- Plan those weekend expenses and have a parent accompany you when handling large sums of money.
- If you have to carry a large sum of money to school for an after-class expense, lock the money somewhere and don't tell anyone, but be prepared to justify to a teacher or official why you brought so much money to school.
- For example, if you need to buy a bicycle from a friend after class, be honest and tell the teacher the details.
Method 4 of 4: Know Your Personal Property Rights in School
Step 1. Seek help if you feel your rights have been violated
Contact the Student Rights Protection Desk to discuss a potential violation of your rights and any legal action you may need to take. Usually, student rights associations can work with your school to ensure that your rights are respected without resorting to legal action.
- Write down on paper everything that happened in a given situation where you believe your rights have been violated.
- Include information such as the date of the incident, who was involved and who was present.
- Add details, such as everything that was said and by whom, as well as anything that was asked or done of you.
Step 2. Be aware that a teacher usually cannot access content on your phone
If cell phones are not allowed in your school, an official can seize it until the end of the day; however, if you were just texting or making a phone call in a context not allowed by the school, they will not be able to access any of the content on your mobile.
- If a teacher or official asks for your permission, you are not required to allow them to access the content on your mobile.
- Checking the contents of the mobile is only legal if there is a well-founded suspicion of your involvement in breaking a certain rule of the institution, but even then the officials can only check what is necessary to confirm or deny the suspicion.
- Officials are prohibited from using your mobile phone to call or text other students on your behalf.
Step 3. Be aware that laptops are more likely to be legally searched
If you bring your laptop to school despite not being allowed, officials have the right to confiscate it until the end of class; depending on the regulation, they may or may not be authorized to control its contents.
- If you are allowed to bring a laptop into your school, the teacher can only check its contents if there is a well-founded suspicion of an infringement on your part.
- It is not permitted to copy or view documents that have no connection with the alleged infringement.
- For example, if you have been accused of sending threatening emails, the school has the right to ensure that this does not happen, but it does not have the right to view images stored on your personal computer during the investigation because they are not relevant. for the charge.
Step 4. Acknowledge the legal differences regarding the searches of your own property and those owned by the school
An official may commandeer a school-owned laptop from you for a certain reason and have the right to check its contents.
- Likewise, a teacher has the right to ask you for the password of an institutional email account.
- If a teacher asks you for the password of a personal mailbox or device that does not belong to the school, do not provide it.
- To protect your privacy, keep and send personal messages from your personal devices when you are not at school.
Step 5. Deal with law enforcement properly
If a police officer asks you to search your items, be aware that the rules in these cases are slightly different and it is necessary that the officer has a warrant or your consent. However, remember to always be polite when interacting with an agent, even if only to reduce the time you have to spend with them.
- Politely ask the officer who wishes to search you or your belongings, including your phone and computer, to show you the warrant.
- Ask if you are free to go; usually, you will have permission, unless the officer has evidence or a well-founded suspicion that you have already committed a crime or were about to commit it.
- Ask for a parent or lawyer if the agent starts asking you questions you don't want to answer.
- If the search takes place without your consent, openly declare that you do not consent by saying: "I do not consent to the search of my personal effects".
- If you don't know what to do or what to say, know that you always have the right to remain silent.
