GASTONIA, N.C. (WJZY) — A Gaston County family, new to North Carolina, says their son was embarrassed at his new school when the principal had him remove his pants to search for a vape pen.
“I was really embarrassed,” the anonymous student told Queen City News.
The 14-year-old Grier Middle School student said he was put in an uncomfortable situation when he was being searched for the pen. He said a classmate handed it to him in the gym because he was about to get searched.
Before he knew it, he said he was in the principal’s office.
“They had searched me with a wand first,” he said. “Then they seen the shorts I had on because my hands [were] stuffed into my pants, and that’s when they said, ‘take your pants off.’”
The student said he felt forced to remove his pants in front of the female principal and another male teacher. He had shorts on underneath, but that was it.
“I understand you wanted to search him,” said the teen’s mom. “You said you all wanded him. I’m fine with him being wanded, but for him to take off his pants, you violated my son.”
Queen City News reviewed the Gaston County Schools procedure for searching property and students. It states a pat down should be conducted in private by a school official of the same sex, which this student said was done appropriately. What we couldn’t find in the handbook is any mention of asking students to remove articles of clothing.
The teenager said his teacher and principal eventually found the vape pen and suspended him for 10 days.
“I think 10 days is a lot, especially when he told them the whole situation,” said the boy’s mom. “We just got here from another state, and we didn’t have any of these types of issues.”
The family said they’re meeting with the school Friday afternoon to discuss what happened. Queen City News sent multiple emails and made several phone calls to the Gaston County Schools communications department and the superintendent’s office. No one has acknowledged our request for comment.
Morgan Frances
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