All right, I'm in law class and we've spent months on this subject, so I hope I can settle this.

As a student at school, you do have freedom of speech. The Supreme Court case Tinker v Des Moines established that freedom of speech IS extended to students in school (summary), as long as said speech does not cause a "substantial" disruption. This applies to pure, passive political, symbolic speech (such as a button with a political statement, or a nonviolent, passive protest). As such, you ARE guaranteed freedom of speech in schools, although the threshold for what is allowed is lower than outside school gates.

HOWEVER, the Tinker case REFUSED to touch school dress codes. As such, schools are free to define their dress codes as they choose. To my knowledge, there have been no cases recently that have changed this verdict.

So, your school vice principal is completely wrong in that students do not have rights. In fact, it is the Tinker case that established the right to freedom of speech to school employees, included the VP him/herself.

Make sure to tell them that next time you see them.

And Meagan, while it is true that the school acts as a temporary guardian to students, they do not have the full rights of a parent. They cannot prevent freedom of speech just because they don't like what it says.

You may note that there are exceptions to this rule, such as when it comes to school newspapers and plays, but this is not important in your case.

I can't protest, but I'll tell you that the V.P pulled my friend into the office and gave him a lecture about keeping his mouth shut. Someone is a bit afraid of rebellion, arn't they? She doesn't want anyone to look better than her. Which is understandable, considering the fact that she is in a school with 500 teens that are considerably taller than her.

Yes, a post-it.. That's believable, based on the financial assessment of my school.

Hmmm...they may not have been. If they were afraid that they would have a problem with you in the future, they may have put a post-it there for safety purposes.

Ours do also, Meagan. I was not suspended, but was told that my bringing a knife into school in seventh grade would still be put in my record.They were obviously lying.

My detention (for forgetting my text book once...) got reported to the counsler's office and the slip was put into my file. Luckily our detention slips have the reason for the detention stamped right on them...

detention doesn't go on your permanant record, suspensions and expulsions do and even if you do get detention you can appeal it

quote:

reedomordeath: My view is detention is worth getting the message across and taking action against something that is important to them. Whether you are a child or not, and furthermore as far as freedom of expression goes, wearing the tape over there mouths is an expression of their disagreement with the view of the V.P.

Sure it is, but I did say worse things could happen. Kids at my school could were suspended for similar things, and some schools are willing to expel based on that. Which is stupid, but not worth it at such a young age.

i think you should go for it. Shoot i would do it with you if i went to your school. ANd i agree, that V.P. sersiously doesnt know what he is talking about. I thought it was bad in Oklahoma. I remember in my computer class we were saying something about rights or something like that and our teacher said " Yall dont have any rights when yall are in school dont ya know?" She was joking but it feels like that doesnt it? My friend got into trouble temporary dieing her hair cherry blonde(it was a bad die job with one of those machines you roll your hair through and it dies it) and the Principle said it wasnt a natural hair color. Bleached blonde isnt a natural hair color either. But yeah, i was in math class and i said was pissed and i said "lifes sucks" outloud and the o so wonderful teacher told me " you better watch what u say when u leave my class." I can say whatever the hell i want to if i dont inpede on anybody elses freedoms or offends anybody. I think teachers just want to make us to feel inferior so they act like they are offended at simplest things so we get in trouble and we "learn" to be mindless drones that dont protest when they try to shove crap down our throughts. But GO FOR IT PUNK WITHOUT A CAUSE, WE MIGHT BE IMMATURE BUT WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!! My grandma even says once we walk through the school doors we have no rights.

The v.c. doesn't know what he is talking about, you have freedom of speech regardless of your age. If you think that is bad you should come to Pittsburgh, people here are a bunch of goof-asses.

quote:

Freedomordeath: My view is detention is worth getting the message across and taking action against something that is important to them. Whether you are a child or not, and furthermore as far as freedom of expression goes, wearing the tape over there mouths is an expression of their disagreement with the view of the V.P.

I personally do NOT think taking a detention is worth it. Stuff like that goes on your permanant record... It isn't going to give your arguement for the detention, just the fact that you got one for _______.

Freedomordeath: My view is detention is worth getting the message across and taking action against something that is important to them. Whether you are a child or not, and furthermore as far as freedom of expression goes, wearing the tape over there mouths is an expression of their disagreement with the view of the V.P.

Punkwithacause: More power to you, I agree with your idea to "protest" against the view of the V.P. I wish you luck that what you do may bring the issue to light for the students/faculty at your school.

You know, I say go for it. I was watching MTV the other day, (High school stories) and this chick wasn't allowed to display her painting in the school art show because the woman in it had her breast exposed. They put green paper over it, and then displayed it. The girl was so mad, she and many other people came to school the next day all wearing green paper on their breasts. She got nominated for an award.
But my point is, it doesn't matter if we're "children" or not. There are many adults who act like children, and many children who act like adults. Age is just a number, it shouldn't be a definition.
And what kind of school do you go to? That sounds more like a private school to me. And I thought my school rules were bad.
Sent to the office for a lip ring? Come on. We don't get sent to the office unless our shirts are exposing everything or something...and then we usually just get told to put our sweatshirts on.
Wow...

why is this noiseboard of the day?

Also, you need to understand that nowadays the interpretation (by the nation) of the first amendment is "freedom of expression" - not freedom of speech, which is only one form of "expression". So even your act today may put you in detention, if not worse.

Sorry to break it to you, but as a minor is a K-12 public school, you really don't have freedom of speech. In the case of a sudents going to school, the teacher (or someone from the school, I'm not totally sure who) acts "en loco parentis" (I think the Latin is right...). This means that you are basically in the custody of the school. (I was explained this in MY 11th grade civics class.) So they are able to tell you what you can and cannot wear, and when you can and cannot speak. It sucks, but its life.

Thanks. It just ticks me off..we do go to public school though.

Go for it dude! this VP obviously fell asleep in his civics class

As a minor you have limited rights, but you undeniably have free speech. It depends on if your school is private or public on what rights you have at school, though.

For example, at a public school your hair length isn't moderated, while at a private school it normally is. Even though citizens obviously have freedom of hair, school environments can limit what you have the ability to do.

Your principal is obviously misinformed or trying to make you be that way. Print out the amendments to the constitution and shove them in his face or something, since your lips will be taped.