Suspended For A Drug Message OFF-Campus But At A School-Sponsored Event

Ken Starr, of Whitewater fame, is representing the school board that suspended a student for unfurling a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner on a public sidewalk near his school as the 2002 Olympic Torch was run by. The catch is, students were let out of class, accompanied by their teachers, to go watch the torch--so it was a school-sponsored event.

Starr, who is now dean of the law school at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, urged the high court in his appeal brief to clear up the "doctrinal fog infecting student speech jurisprudence."

Well wouldn't it be nice if they could finally do that.

The appeal will likely be argued in late February, with a ruling expected by late June.

I'm with the school board on this one. School-sponsored event, school rules apply. No way would I have a student cuss me out on a field trip just because we weren't at school. Same situation, to me. Now, if the Supremes rule that drug references do not impact the learning environment, and hence cannot be regulated at school, I'd consider changing my mind. He would have no right to disrupt a class with his free speech, but if the Supremes say that this type of speech is ok, then it's ok.

Hat tip to the EducationWonks (see blogroll at left).