WATCH: Oh, Kmart!
Pamela Poole: Talk About a Choking Hazard! What I Never Expected to…
"Bong Hits 4 Jesus" going to Supreme Court
Filed under: Day Care & Education
In 2002, Joseph Frederick, then a senior in high school, was suspended after unveiling a 14 foot banner that read "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" -- timed to coincide with the Olympic torch relay that was passing through town. Frederick and his family subsequently filed a lawsuit, arguing that the suspension violated his First Amendment rights.
For better or for worse, the Supreme Court has ruled on a number of occasions that schools are not required to uphold the same standards of free-speech as everyone else, but Frederick wasn't technically at school. He was on a public sidewalk at a school-sponsored event, which according the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California, is a significant difference. They ruled that, even if the banner promoted illegal drug use, it's appearance off school grounds didn't disrupt the school's educational mission, and was therefore allowed.
I'm inclined to agree. While I understand that schools must have the authority to curb certain kinds of speech on campus (like hate speech, for instance), the young man in question was in a public place. Any of the students that witnessed Frederick's promotion of marijuana use (oh, the horror), could just as easily have heard that message from some adult who the school had no control over. So what if it's a school-sponsored event? Sounds to me like the administrators were just embarrassed.
What do you think? Was the suspension out of line? Do you agree with the way schools in your area handle free speech?
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
Recently Asked
- Here in dc since dec, 6 2006 retired FED BOARD GOV,inventor ,writter, FORMER GOVERNOR (founder of the republic of )DERIAN DOUGLAS HICKMAN
- Copyright royaly board understanding building a radio or tv (song sound good got your own radio)?
- Is it legal to claim relation to a person ? ( OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE FOR MONATERY GAIN) TO BE ILLEGAL ?
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Raw Video: Tornado Hits School Bus
Surveillance video shows the inside of a school bus in Henryville, Indiana, as a tornado hit on March 2nd. The twister threw the bus into a building. Eleven school children and the driver had just evacuated the bus. (March 30)
-
5-Year-Old Rundown By Runaway School Bus
A 5-year-old girl is recovering from serious injuries after being hit by a runaway school bus at a Moreno Valley elementary school.
It happened around 2:30 p.m. Monday at Box Springs Elementary School just after school was let out for the day.
At the time, the girl was standing on the sidewalk waiting to be picked up, California Highway Patrol investigators said.
-
Young Adult Stars Talk High School Days
Director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody's highly anticipated Young Adult premiered in NYC last night, where the film's stars took ET back to their high school days. Charlize Theron revealed that although she wasn't a hit with the boys in her high school days because "boys just don't find glasses attractive", she also didn't have the "mean girls" experience. "It was an art school in South Africa," she said about her high school. "It was way more mellow."
-
Claremont, New Hampshire Schools, Police Cruiser Hit With Graffiti
Police in Claremont, New Hampshire, are looking for a vandal who has hit schools and cars. Officers said the tagger left so many spray-painted obscenities and drug references around town that he or she could face felony charges.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
12-03-2006 @ 4:37PM
Linda said...I donot feel that the young man should have been punished at all. I agreed with freedom of speed also and would have preferred to have read some other kind of praise for Jesus. I also feel that the "Bong Hits could be a screen name and not meant for drugs. Did anyone who decided to implement this punishment think about that before jumping to conclusions or is your mind always on drugs.
Reply
12-03-2006 @ 3:27PM
Diane Hamel said...You are almost certainly one of the so called politically correct people that are undermining this country! Oh you say you want freedom, but freedom to do wrong! It's ok for people like you that take advantage of the vast number of people that gave their lives for the freedom we have today so you could write your little article but you are the same people that take away a person's right to lift up the name of God ( oh the horror)in schools. Incidentally, since prayer and God have been removed, how do you like where our youth and this country are headed. Watch the news lately? People can have unrestrained pre-martal sex. Outcome? unwanted babies? Outcome? MURDER in the womb. You probably call this pro- choice. I call it pro- death! Or how about AIDS and other STMS? People smoking pot getting & getting drunk. Outcome? STUPID,LAZY, students and workers that don't want to do anything. Drunk drivers at epidemic proportions killing innocent people.We allow illegal aliens into our country saying they have every right to benefits but we can't support our own people. Our taxes are being used to fund abortions (aka..MURDER) but people scream when a public school has a Christmas play! You people owe all the soldiers that ever fought and died for YOUR freedom and the freedom of the Jews in WW2. You are turning our country into a GODLESS, surpressed nation run by communistic beliefs.Good is called EVIL and EVIL is called good.Put THAT in your bong and smoke it! I realize that my e-mail won't make it into your comments because while you want the freedom to write your beliefs you don't want anyone who is actually telling the truth to be heard. THAT my friend is censorship.
Reply
12-03-2006 @ 3:26PM
adam said...joe was just expressing his thoughts and by being punished definitly violated his freedom of speech and bongs hits are always good
Reply
12-03-2006 @ 3:26PM
Rachel May said...Most schools have a code of conduct that prohibits wearing clothes that have drug parphernalia (sp?) on them. This was a school-sponsored event. The article specifically states that the students had been let out of class early, and that their teachers were with them. In the schools where I've taught, school rules ALWAYS apply during school-sponsored events (i.e. field trips).
Another important note is that the suspension wasn't issued for having the sign - it was issued for insubordination. If the student were a tad more mature, he could have taken the sign down at that moment, then challenged his ability to have/display it in a formal complaint.
Reply
12-03-2006 @ 1:51PM
ann adams said...Somehow I doubt that "bong hits" is just a screen name.
Reluctantly, I agree with Rachel up to a point. If it was a school sponsored event, school rules apply.
Civil disobedience has always had risks attached. If he refused to take the sign down, he should be prepared for consequences. I have no way of knowing if this kid was just clowning around or seriously trying to make a case for freedom of speech.
On the other hand, I went back and read the article. It sounds like Ken Starr of Whitewater fame is looking for a much more sweeping ruling than "school sponsored" events. He'd like to restrict speech - period. For me, that goes much too far.
Reply
12-03-2006 @ 3:26PM
ann adams said...Just reread what I wrote. Rachel, I didn't mean that I was reluctant to agree with you personally; just that I had mixed feeling.
Reply
12-03-2006 @ 3:26PM
Rachel May said...No problem, Ann. I understood, but thanks for the clarification. :)
I don't want speech to be limited, either. Having worked with teens for many years, I don't think he was prepared for the consequences. Generally, the students who are able to think things through and predict the consequences of their actions aren't the ones who get in trouble (at least not for insubordination). Those are the ones who can make a strong, intelligent, effective statement about their beliefs. Those are the ones I celebrate -- not punk "Bong Hit" kids who are most likely trying to be funny and stubborn, not promote free speech.
Reply
12-03-2006 @ 5:02PM
ann adams said...Truth from your perspective or mine? They both seem to have made it into the comments. That's because the same 1st Amendment you seem to despise protects both of us.
I can't speak for Rachel but I'm pretty sure she loves this country as much as I even though we often differ on solutions.
When we do disagree, we manage to make our points coherently and remain civil.
Reply
12-03-2006 @ 10:01PM
Rachel May said...Hear, hear, Ann. Well said, and I'm honored to be considered in the same class with you, even when we disagree. I'm always interested to hear what you have to say on topics because you present your information and opinions in a well-thought-out and forthright (but never rude) manner. I appreciate hearing from you!
Reply
1-08-2007 @ 10:00PM
SKL said...I never thought I'd say this, but I think nowadays schools are between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, they are expected to maintain safety, order, and wholesome learning environment. On the other hand, they are prevented from controlling what their charges do. What if the errant kid wasn't holding up a sign, but screaming the "N" word at a kid next to him? Would that be freedom of speech that the teachers have to respect? Or would the teachers be sued by the darker kid's parents for allowing the behavior? Or both?
In my opinion, kids in school don't have the same rights as adults, and they don't need the same rights. They lack the judgment to make adult decisions. While I believe the rules are arbitrary / ridiculous sometimes, we need to teach kids to respect schools and teachers, and to wait until a freer time to "express themselves" without consequences. Personally, I'm sending my kids to school to learn about the 3Rs, not drugs, and I'd appreciate their having a conducive environment for academics. It's pretty sad when drug mantras are allowed in the schools while prayers are not.
Reply