The Supreme Court recently considered a 2002 Alaska case involving the question of limits on the free speech rights of public school students. In a 5-4 vote it said that school principals could punish students for making statements that could be "reasonably" construed as advocating illegal drug use.

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An important editorial...thank you.

I also read the results of this Foundation's study when they were released. It's not only a heartbreaking reflection of the lack of knowledge and respect about those freedoms we all should enjoy, but it is also related, I am sure, to the ideologies put forth and mandated by the Bush/Cheney administration-an administration that has squashed our civil liberties and an administration the Robert's Court looks to indefinitely support, well beyond January 2009. If this is true, however, it is a pathetic excuse. I doubt high schoolers in the peak of McCarthyism were so distracted and uneducated, willing to sacrifice our fundamental freedoms while the country was falling under the influence of extreme and dangerous ideologies. Maybe they were, who knows. The important difference is back then there was a media who cared about the problem, rather than about Paris Hilton, and there was a legislature willing to take action. Today, there is none of that and looking to the next generation, our fears for the future of this country should be compounded.

It's the 4th of July in a couple of days. But tell the kids, the foolish kids who think our constitution goes to far, that this holiday is about FREEDOM not fireworks...

It isn't hard for me to see how it would encourage kids to use Marijuana.  Do you really work with and understand kids that age?  I do and it is not a great leap.

mom wrote:

It isn't hard for me to see how it would encourage kids to use Marijuana. Do you really work with and understand kids that age? I do and it is not a great leap.



This would not encourage drug use any where near the extent that Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" program did in the 1980's. Bong hits for Jesus is a laugh. Do you think that kids would be sitting around saying, "Well, if bong hits are good enough for Jesus maybe I should try one." I smoked marijuana at that age. I think I have a pretty good idea of why I wanted to try it. People were pretty damned concerned I not do it but never provided good reasons. Whenever people oppose something, but can't validate their opposition, teenagers are going to be tempted. Next time you wish to oppose something you feel is harmful do your homework. Collect valid evidence of the harm. Express the nature of the harm and the evidence backing it up in an honest an open manner. Skip the foolish add campaigns (my brain is not an egg). Don't stifle free speech, counter it with reason. Kids are not stupid, but they will act stupid if you give them reason (lets say, the lack of reason) to.

mom wrote:

It isn't hard for me to see how it would encourage kids to use Marijuana. Do you really work with and understand kids that age? I do and it is not a great leap.


Marijuana is a past idea, They are on to bigger, better and more powerful stuff.

With them making Meth, the locations that they use to make the stuff is ruined and toxic. People innocently buy and sell these places without the knowledge of and the history of these places. Innocent people dye because of this. Innocent people loose all of their belongings and their homes and left with huge debt.

With the current thought or perception of our constitutional rights, Are children being taught that individual rights are not made to take away others rights?
Their enjoyment or freedom could perhaps kill another person?

This includes all of our law enforcement agencies who have been investigating these meth houses and now have serious medical conditions because of it. Not mentioning the innocent families who suffer from living in these places.

I noticed the poll results were overwhelmingly in favor of all out free speech. so if this poll accurately describes the attitude of your average Utahn then why were gay clubs in schools banned?

Isn't that a form of free speech also and what about burning the flag, isn't that free speech too?

Why not let the little racist kids wear Nazi uniforms to school also since we are advocating drug usage here.