Can A School Punish A Student For Speech At A School-Supervised Event Off Of School Grounds When That Speech Could Be Viewed As Promoting Illegal Drug Use"?

Introduction

This research paper is based on the analysis that can a school punish a student for speech at a school supervised event off of school grounds when that speech could be viewed as promoting illegal drug use. Morse v. Frederick is a famous case of 2007 in the United States Supreme Court held 5-4 that the First Amendment does not restrict the educators to limit the students' speech at the school. The District Court ruled the cause of right in favor of the defendants because there understood that they enjoyed qualified immunity and had not violated the free speech of Frederick. The principal of a school does not violate the First Amendment when it limited the expressions of freedom of speech of students at a school (Morse v. Frederick, pp. 5).

U.S. history has many instances in which the freedom of expression is discussed. In this regard, courts have focused on defining what exactly is protected under the law and what is not, such as the destruction of the flag, acts that incite riots, harassment or threatening words. The various cases in the Supreme Court also decided that the First Amendment does not provide complete protection of commercial speech and expression, defamation (libel oral and written), speech and expression, which may harm the children. In addition, even a word or expression, enjoying the broad protection of the First Amendment can be restricted on the basis of its content. Freedom of speech can sometimes promote equality and harmony, even when a person uses it, guided by conflicting motives.

My analysis over the case reveals that the freedom of speech may be perceived badly, it can make an element of uncertainty. But, it is absolutely necessary to achieve genuine national harmony. Harmony is achieved when we can respect our differences and our different opinions, as well as to ensure the implementation of laws in accordance with our general principles. During the last year the administration of many schools were forced to ban the mention of "God" and other religious terms. These words cannot be used both by the teachers and pupils. Moreover, teachers are forced to revise the curriculum and to exclude from the text the fragments of various works of a religious nature (Shannon, pp.859).

Brief Overview of the Morse v. Frederick Case

This case is based on the issues of freedom of expression at public school when a school punishes a student for speech at a school-supervised event off of school grounds when that speech could be viewed as promoting illegal drug use. Freedom of opinion and expression can be defined as a freedom to express ideas and opinions through speech or writing without censorship or government restrictions. In an event approved and supervised by the school of which he was director, the petitioner Morse saw several students extend a parade that read "Bong Hits 4 Jesus", which ...