Speak Up! - View Question #415

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Question: Is it illegal to take freedom of speech from kids in school?

Answer: School's need to maintain a safe environment for students and teachers. The right to free speech is protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution. However, when spoken words are abusive, offensive or the language is unacceptable, your right to free speech may be limited. Fighting words, those that may create a situation in which a fight may occur, are not protected by the Constitution. Students' rights and the need for safe school environment may sometimes come in conflict. In such cases, the courts have determined that students may have their rights limited.


Comments
51 thru 55 of 63 comments
On 12/12/02
jeremy from TX said:
I think kids should have the same rights as teachers have in school if teachers can tell us to shut up and they can call us stupid we should be able to do the same because that is fair just because they are adults doesnt give them any rights to do that stuff if they are supposed to be a role modle then that is what they are teaching us.
On 12/12/02
jeremy from TX said:
im wriiting a paper on freedom of speech for kids and i think they should be able to say whatever they want as long as it is for a reason
On 08/27/02
zac from IA said:
hay man i think the same i think they can go throw our lockers but not our stuff thats just rong
On 04/23/02
Erik from MD said:
I do think it is illegal to take away a kids freedom of speech because without it no one will be able to have an opinion in a situation. The decisions will always be made for us. And how would that benefit us. We'll all become zombies or something. Free speech gives us our uniqueness, our own individuality.
On 04/11/02
liz from AZ said:
ok, we JUST learned about this in school...technically kids dont have the same rights as adults...therefore when in a school environment, kids need to be appropriate.
51 thru 55 of 63 comments



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