I support the student's protest goals, but I have to agree that the duct tape is out. I say armbands are ok. The duct tape restricts participation in class discussion, could be a safety hazard. The protest should be allowed with armbands.
So Martin Sheen can use duct tape to protest but not this student. I don't get what you see as the difference. If the student can not particpate in class because her mouth is taped shut, then she fails the class for the day.
But her rights to peaceful statement can not be abridged.
Are you sure you don't work for the Chinese government. Sounds like they can use you in Tibet.
That was also my first reaction, matthew, but it quickly changed. We've been made aware of the anti-Christian bias in some (many?) public schools. All Christmas displays are banned. I wonder if they still say the Pledge of Allegiance. If so, is "under God" permitted?
They're free and willing to teach grade school children that homosexuality is an equally acceptable choice as a man/woman relationship.
Are public schools trouncing the Muslim beliefs in the same way? Not that I've heard.
So the anti-abortion students don't answer in class for ONE day; so what? Obviously the long-suffering approach to dealing with liberals does not work.
Maybe I'm dead wrong but these kids are showing more guts than I've witnessed from the Republican Party pols in recent years.