Free Speech Freedom Of Speech - 1786 Words

Introduction Freedom of speech is a right of every American that is protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. This democratic freedom allows citizens to speak and express themselves freely. Public school teachers and students are also free to express themselves, however they can both be limited by school administration. The goal of this paper is to analyze free speech as defined by the First Amendment and discussed limitations placed on teachers and students by schools and upheld by the courts. There will also be a discussion of potential areas of liability for public schools concerning freedom of expression and recommendations to mitigate these liabilities. Free Speech and the First Amendment Public†¦show more content†¦Board of Education (1968) tells us that public school teachers do not relinquish their First Amendment free speech rights by becoming a government employee and that employees have a Constitutional protected right to speak out on matters of public importance (Vasek Hendricks, 2016). â€Å"Within reasonable limits, teachers possess the same constitutional rights as do other citizens (Essex, 2012, p. 204).† According to Essex (2012) teachers may not be reprimanded or discriminated against for proper use of their First Amendment rights, especially regarding issues of public concern. When acting in their role as an educator they are also extended protection to exercise their judgment to provide a creative learning environment that helps students gain the knowledge and skills to be productive members of society (NCAC, 2013). Student Rights Students do not â€Å"shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate,† was held in the landmark Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District case in 1969. Since this ruling public school students enjoy First Amendment rights that protect many forms of speech. Although there are limits in the school setting, they can speak their minds aloud or through social media, wear T-shirts with messages, dye their hair funky colors, and wear jewelry or buttons that make a social statement. According to Howie (2015, p. 14) â€Å"student speech can only be regulated and suppressed when school officials can prove that the student’s exerciseShow MoreRelatedFree Speech : Freedom Of Speech1403 Words   |  6 PagesFREE SPEECH Freedom of speech is perhaps the most precious tenets of liberal democracies accorded to the citizens of the free world. The United States, and the rest of the Western society is known to be the cradle of democratic principles, and this can be evidenced by the level of freedom accorded to the citizens of the United States and the West in terms of speech. The freedom of speech gives an individual an opportunity to speak his or her mind and also give his or her opinion, sometimes on veryRead MoreSpeech Free Speech On The Freedom Of Speech1380 Words   |  6 Pagesmake no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. This freedom of speech clause as included in the First Amendment guarantees the citizens of America to express information and ideas freely. But is all form of speech free? On the most basic level, this clause allows for the expression of an opinionRead MoreFree Speech Or Freedom Of Speech Essay911 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction America is known as The Land of Freedom, basically we are entitled for legal freedom to do whatever we wanted to. However, the freedom of speech has been challenged by many university students and educators recently. In their argument, they believe that free speech has triggered students’ unhappiness and jeopardize campus’ safety. What is the free speech or freedom of speech? According to dictionary, freedom of speech is the right of people to express their opinions publicly withoutRead MoreFree Speech Freedom Of Speech1689 Words   |  7 PagesBenjamin Franklin once said, â€Å"Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.† With this quote in mind, freedom of speech should surely be guaranteed right in a every institution. There are various forms of free speech to powerful speeches at a peaceful protest to a girl posting a selfie. Freedom of speech is the key concept that is ba sis of every human right. This inherent right should be protected and supported inRead MoreFree Speech Freedom Of Speech1180 Words   |  5 PagesFree speech shall not incite evil and hatred in this country. The First Amendment prevents the government from infringing upon our freedom of assembly and speech. â€Å"The disability is so complete that Congress is expressly forbidden to enact laws respecting an establishment of religion, or laws abridging the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech and press, and the right to petition the government† (Bybee). As a whole, our founding fathers only had good intentions with regards to First AmendmentRead MoreFree Speech On Freedom Of Speech1929 Words   |  8 Pagesthe use of hate speech on college campuses. These limitations on free speech strike at the heart of law and justice within our society. To tolerate these restrictions sets dangerous precedents and unveils dangerous consequences. Speech codes that limit speech and ex pression beyond the limits of the first amendment are not justified because they harm society and the intellectual integrity of a university while failing to adequately support those students victimized by hate speech. Colleges play anRead MoreFree Speech : Freedom Of Speech1889 Words   |  8 PagesFreedom of Speech The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of speech among other valued standards. The First Amendment states that â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances† (U. S. Constitution). What does it mean by â€Å"Congress shall make no law†¦abridgingRead MoreFreedom Of Speech : Free Speech1296 Words   |  6 PagesFreedom Of Speech In 399 B.C, the Greek Philosopher Socrates was persecuted for an early argument promoting free speech. Later on, The Protection of Speech was first introduced when the Magna Carta was signed in 1215, and in 1948, the United Nations stated that free speech is a human right and drafted into the international Declaration of Human rights.The government doesn t have the right to make a law abridging the freedom of speech because Free Speech is a form of democracy and it s a fundamentalRead MoreFreedom Of Speech And Free Speech1737 Words   |  7 Pages Freedom of Speech can only go so far before it starts to impede the right of the others, and free speech does not come before other people’s given rights.. According to Steven J. Heyman in the article â€Å"Free Speech Has Limits,† freedom of speech comes tied together with respecting the freedom of other and the rights of other people (par. 4). The author goes on to say that cutting off other peoples rights in the name of free speech can be seen as wrongful and can be faced with consequences (parRead MoreFree Speech Freedom Of Speech886 Words   |  4 Pagesunlike any other. The issue? Free speech. Protesters from both sides of the the political spectrum are outraged. leftists claiming that free speech is â€Å"being used as a cover for spreading hate in America†, that people like the infamous Yiannopoulos (a conservative political commentator known for making offensive statements and supporting â€Å"white supremacy, transphobia, and misogyny†) are do ing harm with their first amendment right, while conservatives are claiming free speech is being threatened by the