Quebec Education Minister Yves Bolduc says high school staff are permitted to strip-search students, as long as it's done "in a respectful fashion."
Bolduc's comments Tuesday follow a report in the Journal de Montréal newspaper, saying that a 15-year-old female student at the Neufchatel High School in Quebec City was strip-searched last week after school officials suspected she was selling drugs.
The girl told the newspaper that the female school principal and a female staff member took her to a room in the school and asked her to remove all her clothing, including her underwear. The female staff member held a blanket in front of the student while the principal searched her clothes.
In a news release, the De la Capitale School Board did not dispute that version of events.
The board said school officials have a responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
Citing a 2010 government policy document, the board said staff can search students' personal effects if they have reason to believe a school rule has been broken and evidence could be located in a student's locker or on the student's person.
Bolduc was asked about the story Tuesday at the National Assembly.
He refused to comment on the specific case, but said the practice of strip-searching students is within the rules.
Mike Cohen, a spokesman for the English Montreal School Board, said he's never heard of such a case.
"That's something that's certainly never been done at our board. If we had suspicions about drugs we would call police."
Teen strip search allowed in high schools, says Yves Bolduc - Montreal - CBC News
Bolduc's comments Tuesday follow a report in the Journal de Montréal newspaper, saying that a 15-year-old female student at the Neufchatel High School in Quebec City was strip-searched last week after school officials suspected she was selling drugs.
The girl told the newspaper that the female school principal and a female staff member took her to a room in the school and asked her to remove all her clothing, including her underwear. The female staff member held a blanket in front of the student while the principal searched her clothes.
In a news release, the De la Capitale School Board did not dispute that version of events.
The board said school officials have a responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
Citing a 2010 government policy document, the board said staff can search students' personal effects if they have reason to believe a school rule has been broken and evidence could be located in a student's locker or on the student's person.
Bolduc was asked about the story Tuesday at the National Assembly.
He refused to comment on the specific case, but said the practice of strip-searching students is within the rules.
Mike Cohen, a spokesman for the English Montreal School Board, said he's never heard of such a case.
"That's something that's certainly never been done at our board. If we had suspicions about drugs we would call police."
Teen strip search allowed in high schools, says Yves Bolduc - Montreal - CBC News
