Can your HS suspend you for something that you did OFF of school grounds?

Question

A bunch of my friends got suspended because one of them left a weird comment on her myspace... is that legal?

She didn't name the school and didn't threaten to kill her

Nope, the school name was not mentioned.

Answer 1

If it is legal, it shouldn't be unless she threatened another student or something along those lines. Nowadays, though, schools are stetching and bending established laws in order to excercise unreasonable control over students. They always invoke safety, health, mental distress, etc. to curb otherwise legal behavior. It's outrageous what schools get away with today.

Answer 2

High schools pretty much have the right to do anything they want to kids. One of my buddys got suspended from extra curricular activities, including basketball and bowling team, for drinking a glass of wine on new years eve. It did not happen at school nor was the high school involved until they found out.

Answer 3

It would depend on what the school's policy is. It would also depend on what the comment had to do with. If it was threatening in any way then the school has a good case.

Answer 4

If that "weird" comment had to do with naming the school or affecting a student and commenting on it in a bad light, the probably could.

Answer 5

If it violates standards dealing with intolerance, hate speech, threats and so forth...yes, they can. They can suspend you for any legal trouble you get into off school grounds if they consider it a serious enough offense.

Answer 6

If it didn't happen on school property, school computers, or school time, I don't see how they can do or say a thing. Was the school name even mentioned?