If the person was given the laptop to use for the school yearthen it is not theirs. That is not the same as saying they gave it to him so it is his. On school property or off, day or night, no matter the situation, they laptop is and always was the schools property 100%. You people going off are not being realistic here.
The kid may have not done a report or homework assignment and said it was because he couldn't find his laptop so they turned it on to see who had it, only it was in the kids house all along. You have no idea what the facts are in this case. If he reported it lost with the intention of keeping it then he should be slapped with criminal charges. There could be a hundred situations where they had EVERY right to turn the camera on.
All you privacy freaks don't get on your high horse and defend the rights of the crimal that steals someones smartphone and then gets caught because of a picture taken by it. No you talk smack and say the loser deserved it and praise the owner that tracked them down to get their shit back. But let it be an establishment that does the same thing and they are the evil ______ (government, corporation, school, police etc..)