I kid at my school was suspended for two weeks after the principal found out about a website he designed. It was called "First Flight Middle School Deathmatch" and the principal suspended him and made him take it down. Personally I think this is an infringement of his constitutional rights, but I want to know what you think. There is more on this on my friends website www.studentinformer.blogspot.com.
2007-05-26 13:29:43 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
it wasn't meant to be threatening. It was meant as a joke. Have you ever seen "Celebrity Deathmatch"? It's based on that. It wasn't meant to be taken seriously(I laughed at my own death).
2007-05-26 13:43:34 · update #1
That's another thing about this issue. He didn't set it up at school, the site was set up at home.
2007-05-26 14:07:04 · update #2
It seems possible that the student's rights under the First Amendment (specifically, freedom of expression) might have been violated.
However, to the extent that his involvement with the website disrupted school activities (for example, if he bragged about it to his friends at school and they logged on to the site from the school library's computers), the principal may have acted properly. Also, if the website referred to other students, teachers, or school administrators (or even to the school itself), the principal may have acted properly.
In general, it seems that the constitutional rights of students (especially minors) may not be as broad as those enjoyed by adults, particularly when the exercise of those rights affects the administration of school-related activities.
By calling his website "First Flight Middle School Deathmarch," one might guess that the student was deliberately attempting to provoke the school's administrators. If that's the case, then I think his position may not be very strong.
2007-05-26 15:12:00 · answer #1 · answered by dcdc1211 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem that many people, including teenagers, have is that they think the "rights" given them by the Constitution are without limitations or restrictions. With every freedom or right granted by the Constitution comes responsibility, and that's where people run into problems. Yes, within the Freedom of Speech, you can in theory say anything you want to, but at the same time you must be willing to accept the consequences of what you say. If what you say amounts to slander, you can be taken to court and punished if found guilty, because you are not allowed to damage another person's reputation or good name without good reason.
Every law requiring you to do things or not do things is put in place for a reason, and the reason is usually to protect others' rights and safety or to protect your rights and safety.
2007-05-26 20:44:21 · answer #2 · answered by TitoBob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This may have been a form of cyber bullying. Threats and inappropriate comments about others who are not in the public eye are typically not protected by the Constitution. Schools are dealing with this type of situation more and more due to myspace and other websites where kids write their thoughts about others. You will eventually see the courts supporting the schools and not the individuals like your friend. Whiel he may not have meant to threaten anyone, the princpial and court would look at it from a neutral standpoint.
2007-05-26 20:41:13 · answer #3 · answered by gauchogirl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I do think his 1st amendment rights were breached. I think this because of the Supreme Court's ruling in Virginia v. Black (2003). This ruling makes the speaker's intent an essential element of deciding whether a true threat exists. In looking at the facts posed here, there is no threat under the Black test.
2007-05-26 21:11:36 · answer #4 · answered by cyanne2ak 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would really depend on the nature of the website. If he was threatening other people, or if he was bringing disrepute to the school, the principle might be able to suspend him for it, even though he obviously didn't do the work at school.
2007-05-26 20:55:38 · answer #5 · answered by Jeff M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Considering what has been going on lately with gun rampages at schools, you can't blame administrators for "over reacting". What if it was someone else's kid who was actually deranged, used this to launch an attack, and the school did nothing to nip it in the bud?
2007-05-26 20:47:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe it will serve as a good lesson in social resposiblity that comes with those constitiutional rights.
2007-05-26 20:49:31 · answer #7 · answered by xtowgrunt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We all have free speech. But, when it goes so far as advocating death he has crossed the boundary. He is lucky that all he got was a suspension.
2007-05-26 20:45:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Typical Liberal overeacting. The pricipal can keep him from doing it at school, but he can't stop him at home.
2007-05-26 21:04:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋