Are you satisfied with the level of conduct at your neighborhood school by students- too permissive/stringent?

Question

Free-Speech Case Divides Bush and Religious Right
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By LINDA GREENHOUSE
Published: March 18, 2007
WASHINGTON, March 17 — A Supreme Court case about the free-speech rights of high school students, to be argued on Monday, has opened an unexpected fissure between the Bush administration and its usual allies on the religious right.

As a result, an appeal that asks the justices to decide whether school officials can squelch or punish student advocacy of illegal drugs has taken on an added dimension as a window on an active front in the culture wars, one that has escaped the notice of most people outside the fray. And as the stakes have grown higher, a case that once looked like an easy victory for the government side may prove to be a much closer call.

On the surface, Joseph Frederick’s dispute with his principal, Deborah Morse, at the Juneau-Douglas High School in Alaska five years ago appeared to have little if anything to do with religion — or perhaps with much of anything beyond a bored senior’s attitude and a harried administrator’s impatience.

As the Olympic torch was carried through the streets of Juneau on its way to the 2002 winter games in Salt Lake City, students were allowed to leave the school grounds to watch. The school band and cheerleaders performed. With television cameras focused on the scene, Mr. Frederick and some friends unfurled a 14-foot-long banner with the inscription: “Bong Hits 4 Jesus.”

Mr. Frederick later testified that he designed the banner, using a slogan he had seen on a snowboard, “to be meaningless and funny, in order to get on television.” Ms. Morse found no humor but plenty of meaning in the sign, recognizing “bong hits” as a slang reference to using marijuana. She demanded that he take the banner down. When he refused, she tore it down, ordered him to her office, and gave him a 10-day suspension.

Answer 1

Sounds like a case of "Rowe vs. Weed"!

Answer 2

This case was most definetly not about religion. The case was primarily about a students right to express his opinion towards political and social controversy even if their opinion is the opposite view of that held by the schoolboard. The phrase "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" did not have much signifigance the except for it being an expression of free speech. The case has already been decided and the court sided with the student. Another victory for free speech.

Answer 3

Frederick was testing the limits of free speech, unfortunately some members of the school board are right wing Christians and were highly offended. I myself am thinking of setting up an neon sign "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" in my front yard.

Answer 4

I don't think he's for or against Jesus. I don't think that's what its about, It is about free speech I just love it because its in the news that some kid held up a sign "bong hits for Jesus" and now he's in Supreme Court that's not right and i will go downtown and hold up the same sign at the Court office if it would help!! and YES IT IS ABOUT FREE SPEECH
AND I'M SORRY I LIKE IT

Answer 5

If the sign said, F(#K the Jews, would there even be a controversy? If the sign said, black people are this or that? Would there even be a controversy? Slamming Jesus offends a whole lot of people. Problem is, believers have too much of a laid back approach.

This punk *** brat decided He would not take the sign down. He should be tossed out of school altogether.

Answer 6

If i will ask, how might academic rigidity influence a student's individuality in the 1st place? i'm continuously loaded with artwork from my instructors, yet i'm nonetheless unique (:'] it rather is with academic rigidity that alongside comes duty and boost (besides the fact that if no longer major on the time, often). So, in a feeling, academic rigidity might very nicely boost the student's individuality, because of the fact it rather is in the direction of the aggravating circumstances that they learn who they're, what they're going to make of themselves, and how they're going to cope with such stressors