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>>I take it from your comments that you believe the First Amendment gives teachers the right to say anything to their students.<<

Of course not. I doubt that you'd make that assertion if you really understood the First Amendment.

According to newspaper reports, the purpose of the class is to provoke independent thinking about public issues and current events.

If the school doesn't want the teacher, ANY teacher, to express his or her personal point of view, that's one thing.

But they can't tell him what point of view is acceptable.

Of course not. I doubt that you'd make that assertion if you really understood the First Amendment.

I understand the 1st A. well enough, however, it was your comments I was speaking of.

According to newspaper reports, the purpose of the class is to provoke independent thinking about public issues and current events.

Do you see any evidence, in what has been released, that these students are learning to think independently?

The officer reports taking pictures of "a poster of President Bush with duct tape over his mouth and a large papier-mâché combat boot with the American flag stuffed inside stepping on a doll, along with pictures of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro and his co-thug reactionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara.

Is this an example of independent thinking in your view?

But they can't tell him what point of view is acceptable.

Well there you have it. You believe the 1st A. gives him the right to say anything. Whatever he says, on any subject, is simply "his point of view".

But they can't tell him what point of view is acceptable.

Sure they/we can. Its done all the time. The school board has full control over what is taught and how its taught. There is no freedom of speech in a public classroom.