Replies

The shirt was not offensive - the school offical was wrong. I wear my Klamath Falls anti-greenie T-shirts all the time - if you think you can make me change it - stand by for the ass whippin you are about to receive! Take note, I'm 44 and ain't backin down from any government offical who is wrong! See the first amendment in the last sentence about redress.

Bethel v. Fraser (1986): The Supreme Court held that schools may regulate student speech and may punish students for speech considered to be offensive or disruptive. In the words of the opinion: "The schools, as instruments of the state, may determine that the essential lessons of civil, mature conduct cannot be conveyed in a school that tolerates lewd, indecent, or offensive speech." This decision was distinguished from Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), which held that students have rights of expression within a public school.

Well, it certainly turned out to be disruptive. I agree that the shirt is not "offensive", at least not to me. However, I believe the school should have the authority to restrict what the kid can wear. That is why I asked whether they had told him prior to his wearing it that it was not allowed. If they did, he was insubordinate and deserves punishment.

The shirt was not offensive - the school offical was wrong. I wear my Klamath Falls anti-greenie T-shirts all the time - if you think you can make me change it - stand by for the ass whippin you are about to receive! Take note, I'm 44 and ain't backin down from any government offical who is wrong! See the first amendment in the last sentence about redress.

I hope there aren't more people out there that are as ignorant about constitutional law and public schools as you are. The supreme court has ruled time and time again that first and fourth amendment priveleges do not extend to public schools. They are a special case where education takes priority over free speech. Think about it, if first amendment priveleges extended to public schools then students could voluntarily choose to have protest chants every day. This would clearly disrupt the ability of the school to function and students to learn which would make it pointless to attend school regardless. Clearly, you have a first amendment right to wear your idiotic t-shirt and show everyone what an imbecile you are on the courthouse steps or in front of the white house, but you can't go on school property with it. And you can't give it to some kid to wear on school property if it violates the school dress code. Try to educate yourself before posting reactionary trash that shows your ignorance of constitutional law.