What makes a good phone conversation?

If you get your cell phone taken away, can your principal go through it?

• So my friend (lets say her name is Jamie) was seen with another kid's cell phone. My principal saw and took the cell phone away (understandable, we were in school and cell phones arent allowed). Well my principal read through the other kid's conversation with Jamie and saw that Jamie was using curse words while talking about a kid (lets say... Cody) because Cody was spreading rumours about her and her boyfriend. Well anyway, my principal didn't like this so she decided to call Jamies mom, recomend that Jamie goes to counseling and not allowing Jamie to go to our end of the year trip to an amusement park. I don't think it makes sense that Jamie would get in trouble for a conversation she had with this kid outside of school. So is it legal for my principal to look through his conversations? And is she allowed to punish Jamie in school for it? (I go to a private school in the D.C. area) Thanks <3

• Answer:

  It depends, the most they can look at is the screen or whatever pops up (legally). Now they can't search threw the phone for no reason unless they have the police with them and its something very serious like dealing with lets say drugs or a fight.