. . . Unless, of course, you're a student. This week in class we have been looking at several court cases relevant to student's rights in school. We have also been discussing what consitutes "speech" as it is defined by the Supreme court and the Consitution. The first case we looked at was Tinker v. Des Moines, in which students were suspended for wearing arm bands that protested the Vietnam war. This case set up several perameters for other cases of student rights that followed. One of these was that neither "students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." However, the dissenting opinion issued yet another statement that would influence cases to come. Justice Black's dissent remarks that " It is a myth to say that any person has a constitutional right to say what he pleases, where he pleases, and when he pleases." In other words, if a comment, article of clothing, or other method of free speech causes a "material and substantial disruption" it should not be allowed.
So what does this all mean for the everyday student? For most, it means going about business as usual, following the school rules, using appropriate dress, language, and so on. Our generation seems to be less interested in speaking out about big issues in school than its past counterparts. Or, so it would seem. Nevertheless, examples can be found of areas where students who supported causes such as legalization of marijuana (for medicinal use or otherwise) were forced to take off emblems relating to the leaf or 4:20. While wearing clothing related to drugs and/or alcohol is prohibited at school, what if someone is wearing the symbols because they disagree with the law? Are schools, to paraphrase the aforementioned cases, cutting off basic rights from America's future citizens and leaders as they attempt to educate them about becoming citizens and leaders? Something's not quite right here.
While I agree that students should not be able to spew vulgarity or intentionally make other students uncomfortable in school, I believe that, by high school, we are not only capable of forming opinions on issues and making rational arguments to support them, but are also capable of acting maturely when faced with those who disagree with our opinions. If we cannot discuss or passively display our opinions on issues in school, perhaps it is time for the designated school "soap box" in the lunch room, or the mandatory debate class.
School should not just be where students learn their rights. It should be the place they learn how to use them.
No comments:
Post a Comment