Table of Contents
Why should we protect free speech?
In law, government regulations are censoring speech that is “disparaging,” “immoral,” and “offensive.” In culture, people attack the speaker rather than engaging their ideas. Freedom of speech is an invaluable cornerstone of a free society—and it’s worth fighting to protect.
Can schools punish a student for indecent speech at school why or why not?
The Court was of the opinion that school officials have broad authority to punish students for using “offensively lewd and indecent speech” (p. 685) in classrooms, assemblies, and other school-sponsored activities—even if the speech does not cause disruption and is not legally obscene.
Can teachers look at students social media?
If your school does not have a monitoring program, you do not have the right to know what information teachers and officials find through their own searching on social media. Remember, anything you post publicly can be seen by anybody, including police officers, teachers, officials, and other students.
Do students lose rights at school?
The U.S. Supreme Court has said that students “do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression at the schoolhouse gate.” Though public school students do possess First Amendment freedoms, the courts allow school officials to regulate certain types of student expression.
Can students be punished for actions outside of school?
Courts have long recognized that administrators may punish students for some forms of expression on campus or at school activities—like vulgar language—that would be protected under the First Amendment if it took place outside of K-12 schools. The U.S. Supreme Court hasn’t directly addressed this issue.
What is censorship in schools?
The American Association of School Administrators (AASA), in the book “Censorship and Selection: Issues and Answers for Schools,” defines censorship as: “[T]he removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational materials — of images, ideas, and information — on the grounds that these …
Do minors have freedom of speech?
Court has long recognized that minors enjoy some degree of First Amendment protection. Students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate” (Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District 1969).
Do campus speech codes stifle students freedom of expression?
In 2018, a report published by FIRE found that 89.7 percent of American colleges have policies that restrict the freedom of expression of their students and faculty. These free speech zones began popping up on college campuses during the 1990s and have only served to stifle ideological growth and self-expression.
Can schools discipline students for social media use outside of school?
Making distinctions between what students say on campus and off was easier in 1969, before the rise of social media. These days, most courts have allowed public schools to discipline students for social media posts so long as they are linked to school activities and threaten to disrupt them.
Can schools discipline off campus behavior?
Discipline Policies for Off-Campus Conduct Many states have extended their discipline policies to cover student conduct off campus or after school hours. Almost every school has the power to discipline students for off-campus conduct that directly interferes with the learning process, such as cheating on homework.
Can you get in trouble at school for something you did outside of school?
But if you post something on your own device or account outside of school hours that creates a “substantial disruption” to the school environment, your school can discipline you. You can also get in trouble for “cyberbullying” outside of school.