Are my principals actions legal?
I am a senior at a private Lutheran high school, which is very very small. Recently, a student came to our principal complaining about a conflict that was happening on myspace and some other online forums. He gave your principal the password to his profiles. My principal logged on and viewed everybody's profile from my school. I was forced to delete my myspace profile, even though it is set to private. The reason was that it had 3 swear words on it. He said it makes our school look bad, even though I don't even say where I go to school on my profile. Because of this, I had to delete my profile, as well as an account on another website called opendiary.com ...I was told that if I am caught having an account on either website again I will be expelled. I also found out that he had been reading my online diary for at least a few weeks before I deleted it, which in itself creeps me out. But anyway, are his actions legal? If not, where can I get more information? What can be done about it?
I'm afraid I can't agree with the other posters so far (that because this is a private school you can be expelled without cause). I'd suggest that you review any documents your parents signed when you enrolled, and see if this is indeed covered in any agreements or enrollment contracts.
However, even if it's not, the chances are good you'd have to file a lawsuit to get yourself back into school and that's ridiculous.
But, is that what you're asking? Or are you asking about being 'forced' to delete those two accounts you mentioned and being prohibited from having them again?
If that's what you're wanting to know, I would have serious concerns about that, especially if you didn't mention what school you attend and since your profile was private. I'd repeat what I said before, though...your parents may have signed away your right to free expression like that when they enrolled you, if the terms of enrollment include something that says the principal can expel you just because he thinks you're not the kind of kid they want there. Also, I don't know who 'forced' you to delete the accounts and if it was your parents, then you've got nothing to complain about.
As for the diary, I'm sure you can understand that if your diary was posted on your site (private or not), and if you allowed *anyone* else to view it, then you took the chance that others would see it as well - with or without your knowledge or permission.
Are your principal's actions legal? I suspect they are, but like I said - if they're not, it's going to probably take a lawsuit to change them and I can't imagine you're interested in doing that.
The best source of additional information would be an attorney (and reviewing the documents I mentioned).
You express yourself very well. Suck it up, finish this year, and then get yourself to a college where such petty stuff won't happen.
Your screwed, private schools have different laws to follow.
Answer:
I'm a tech admin at a private school, and yes, your principal can expell you for having those sites. Our principal has considered it, but hasn't decided to do it for the moment.
Since it's a private school, he can do this. Sorry.
Call an attorney. His advice should cost you nothing. Sounds like a lawsuit to me.
it's a private school. that in itself puts you on the short end of the stick here. since it is non-public you don't have any legal rights to be there. at any time a private school may expell a student for any reason that they feel is justified. if the administrator thinks that your actions are not in line with what that school is looking for in a student then you are gone, it's just that simple. they don't even have to give you a second chance so thank them and do what you are told, or transfer to another school and try your luck there.
tough love you might say but if you plan to attend any private university of repute such as an ivy league school get used to it since they can turn you out for breaking a dress code if they impose one.
There is no right to freedom of speech at a private school because the principal is not acting on behalf of the government. Reading your on line diary is legal because you posted it in a public space.
Making you delete your account is interesting. To my knowledge the Courts have never dealt with this issue. I don't know of any law it breaks (interference with a contract?). I'm sure it would be a fascinating case if someone had between $500,000 and $1,000,000 for legal fees and appeals.
