Essay On First Amendment In Schools

Freedom of speech and expression is under the first amendment that being one of our most valuable rights that we possess as Americans. However in this case we will be discussing the first amendment and how it extends to students in school and how far it protects students on both sides. Bill Foster a student at a High school and not related to any gang activity suspended for wearing an earring that are barred due to gang activity. In this following suit we will examine whether or not Bill’s freedom of expression was violated in this case, and if so how, and if not why not. Reviewing former court case material to support that his expression rights were not violated based on conditions needed to constitute that. Secondly, existing rules that …show more content…
In Boroff V. Van Wert City Board of Edu.(2000) it is established a school can indeed prohibit such things if they are deemed offensive or vulgar. However a simple earring is not vulgar nor it is offensive. While this court case affirms that a school can indeed prohibit clothing based on a message, it only mentions one of those two conditions that have to be met. On the contrary, the earring meets neither to warrant it being banned. In conclusion deriving all the evidence gathered regarding Bill and his specific case. From what constitutes as being disruptive to an education environment on one side to what does not constitute as a disruption. This stemming from the outlying gang related symbols that was banned in schools, which may be deemed offensive or vulgar in some instances, especially when there is affiliation involved. However, in Bill’s case with no affiliation he was no disruption to the educational environment by wearing an earring to school. Therefore, he should be able to wear the earring without having his freedom of expression forfeit for what others may do that he is not affiliated