Pro on Board of Education vs Earls 2002
Board of Education v Earls 2002 case help schools and other learning institutions to take care of student safety and health including preventing drug abuse. The case also clarified the grounds when the 4th Amendment is said to have been violated. The Fourth Amendment protects individuals from unreasonable and unjustifiable searches and seizures. The plaintiff argued that her privacy had been violated as provided in the 4th Amendment and thus the Board drug testing action was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court decided in favor of the defendant on the grounds that the school acted reasonably to advance the safety and health of the students (Board of Education v Earls, 2002).
Board of Education v Earls 2002 case was a breakthrough for many school policies that are meant to protect student interests but are criticized or challenged in the court of law for violating constitutional rights. In the case, the Supreme Court held that it was constitutional for the board to carry out suspicion-less drug testing of student-athletes. The court decision gave public schools in the United States a hope that they can enact policies if they reasonably address the welfare of the students. THIS IS A SAMPLE ORDER YOUR PAPER NOW
According to the Supreme Court, the drug testing program was significant because it helped to rehabilitate students already involved in the drug use. The board treated the drug victims as minors and never reported them to police and allowed them to participate in sports while undergoing counseling. It can be argued that the Board aim was to rehabilitate students rather than to violate the provisions of the 4th Amendment.
Even though the program appeared to have violated the 4th Amendment prohibitions as argued by the plaintiff, the court held that it was reasonable in the light of widespread use of drugs among the students. The school was on the verge of becoming a drug abuse hub, and the problem was believed to been caused by the athletes. Therefore, the Board was right to drug test sports athletes willing to participate in sports. The ruling locks out drug abusers in schools who may use the 4th Amendment as an excuse to avoid being subjected to testing.
Works Cited
Board of Education v Earls, 92 (Supreme Court of the United States June 27, 2002). Retrieved from https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/536/822/