[trojangal]

Bummer situation...I've had stuff taken out of my classroom before as well, but usually managed to recover it.

At my school, we used what was called the Truth Log. We handed it out, when there was an incident, and we asked the students to write on the Truth log what they saw/heard/did. The nice thing about this is it's done anonymously...they don't put their names on it, and you usually find out the truth about what happened. Most of the time you'll have those few students who know what was going on tell you about it anonymously.

Second---you can discuss with your students the issue of ownership. Ask them how they would feel if you went to their locker or took something out of their bookbag. How would they feel? What would they expect you to do? Then explain that those books cost the school a lot of money---and that the person who took it, if they don't return it, would have to pay for a new TE, which can cost well over $100.

Third, let them know that taking the book for the answers is cheating and academic dishonesty. Tell them what the consequences are in your school for that---by reading the penalty out of the school handbook.

Good luck, and hope this helps.