Ms. Brady

John F. Kennedy High School

SEARCH & SEIZURE: a Webquest

Introduction

You are in the school’s locker room listening to music using a walkman with headphones. A security officer sees this and takes the walkman since this is a violation of school policy. The officer also claims he saw you quickly zipper up your backpack. The officer takes you into the Dean’s Office where a dean demands that you open your backpack. You refuse, arguing that searching your bag is unconstitutional. The dean opens your bag and finds a can of beer. As a result, you are suspended for five days for breaking the school’s policy of no alcohol as well as the ban of walkmans.

Task

Using Compulegal locate the New Jersey V. T.L.O case. This will be located under Search and Seizure.

• Discuss the similarities of New Jersey V. T.L.O to your case
• Discuss the differences of New Jersey V. T.L.O to your case
• Discuss if you think the school was justified in suspending you for 5days. Explain your answer.

Process

1. Visit the Compulegal website and read the New Jersey V. T.L.O case.

For steps 2-4 type a half page:

2. Describing how your case is similar to the New Jersey V. T.L.O case
3. Describing how your case is different to the New Jersey V. T.L.O case
4. Describing how you will the school was either justified or unjustified in suspending you

Resources

Compulegal

TIPS Home Page

Ask a question to Ask-a-Legal Eagle

Jurist School of Law

Evaluation

Grade A

· Showed a complete and detailed understanding of the topic and task

· Successfully discussed similarities and differences in detail

· Richly supported the task using relevant facts and examples

· The paper was typed and checked for spelling and grammatical errors

Grade B

• Showed a good understanding of the topic and task
• Successfully discussed similarities and differences
• Included relevant facts and examples to support opinions and perspectives
• The paper was typed and checked for spelling and grammatical errors

Grade C

• Showed a satisfactory understanding of the topic and task
• Completed most aspects of the task
• Included some facts and examples to support opinions and perspectives but not in depth
• The paper was typed and checked for spelling and grammatical errors

Grade D

• Showed little understanding of the topic or task
• Attempted to address task but provided little relevant information
• Included little facts and examples
• The paper was typed and had minor spelling and grammatical errors

Grade F

• Did not address the topic or task
• Included no relevant facts and examples
• Paper not typed and many spelling and grammatical errors

Standards

1.    Standard 5.1 The study of civics, citizenship, and government involves learning about political systems; the purposes of government and civic life; and the differing assumptions held by people across time and place regarding power, authority, governance, and law.

2.    The state and federal governments established by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of New York embody basic civic values (such as justice, honesty, self-discipline, due process, equality, majority rule with respect for minority rights, and respect for self, others and property), principles, and practices and

English Language Arts

E1.c Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2.a Produce a report of information speaking, listening and viewing.

E3.b Participate in-group meetings.

Conclusion

Having successfully completed this assignment, you are now able to:

1. Analyze a case forming an opinion based on the facts of the case
2. Research a topic using the Internet as a source
3. Compare and contrast different legal cases