Should Schools Be Allowed to Limit Students’ Online Speech? Has your day ever come to a complete and utter halt, forcefully interrupted by the news of a peerś online activity? Chances are, it hasn´t. Many school officials want to limit students’ online speech, even from their own homes, removing their freedom to speak their mind. I believe that schools should only be allowed to limit students’ online speech if it causes a significant disruption or threat to the school or the student´s peers. Any limit other than ones regarding disruption should be banned. There are three main reasons why schools should not limit online speech: online activity typically does not affect schools, bullying is everywhere, and First Amendment rights could be violated. …show more content…
In the case of J.S. v. Blue Mountain School District, J.S.ś classmates did speak of her mocking profile, but did not cause disruptions in class that were any worse than their usual disruptions. This evidence helps explain why schools should not limit students´ online speech because it promotes the idea that online speech usually does not cause any significant negative changes in classroom behavior. A second reason why schools should not limit students´ online speech is that bullying does not solely exist online. Evidence of this is that bullying has been occurring for centuries. Cyberbullying is just one more branch of harassment by bullying. This evidence helps explain why schools should not limit students´ online speech because it suggests that even if online speech was to be limited, students could still find other ways to bully. Finally, a third reason why schools should not limit students´ online speech is that limiting online speech could violate free speech rights. Evidence of this in J.S.ś case is that the courts decided that she had been punished unfairly, violating her First Amendment rights. This evidence helps explain why schools should not limit students’ online speech because school districts could get in legal trouble when trying to censor
The case also states “A prohibition against expression of opinion, without any evidence that the rule is necessary to avoid substantial interference with school discipline or the rights of others, is not permissible under the First and Fourteenth Amendments” (Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District). Because the students didn 't necessarily disrupt the education process, their First Amendment freedom of speech should not have been violated by the school officials.
This is a case of great importance because it addresses the issue of the broadness of the First Amendment as well as student’s freedom of speech rights being limited based on vicinity and because they are students. From this case it can be concluded that the courts were indecisive in their decision making process and that they will continue to interpret the First Amendment to their suiting and not as it is written. Finally, schools do need to have the right to enforce policies that are beneficial to the students.
Total freedom does not exist. Being American has made some people believe that they have the freedom to do whatever they want, but this isn’t the case. In this day and age students are free to use texting, social media, and they also have access to various other things on the internet. Some students use these resources responsibly and do not abuse these methods, but on the other hand some students use these resources immaturely and usually cause great dilemmas that can extend to their school life. Consequently, schools should be allowed to limit students’ online speech because cyberbullying can cause widespread problems among both students and teachers, it disrupts learning, and it violates students’ civil rights.
Background- Well limiting a person’s speech online certainly isn’t a thought that just came out of the blue. It started as people, particularly young students, and their use of technology to freely share their thoughts on social media sites. And what became of it was more of bullying one’s peers online than just sharing one’s innocent opinion. But schools are meant to be a safe learning
Benjamin Franklin once said, “Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.” Indeed, free speech is a large block upon which this nation was first constructed, and remains a hard staple of America today; and in few places is that freedom more often utilized than on a college campus. However, there are limitations to our constitutional liberties on campus and they, most frequently, manifest themselves in the form of free speech zones, hate speech and poor university policy. Most school codes are designed to protect students, protect educators and to promote a stable, non-disruptive and non-threatening learning environment. However, students’ verbal freedom becomes limited via “free speech zones.” Free Speech Zones are areas allocated for the purpose of free speech on campus. These zones bypass our constitutional right to freedom of speech by dictating where and when something can be said, but not what can be said.
Schools shouldn't limit online speech because students have the right to express themselves because of the freedom of speech stated in the first amendment , restricting what students can say online won't stop bullying, and majority of the students and teachers are not affected by cyberbullying at all.
On the other hand, students have the right to speak out for what they believe in without having any interference; they have the right to voice their opinion. This protection is all due to the first amendment protection. The first amendment protects the students and also the teachers’ freedom of speech, that includes during and out of school. With the protection of the first amendment no person is able to violate your right to freedom of speech. Any pers...
Cyberbullying has become more of a problem over the past years. With technology being in such high demand and there being endless options. Students can use and abuse technology in a negative light. Since technology isn’t going anywhere cyberbullying will only worsen. The First Amendment rights along with the school’s handbook, student handbook and states policies and procedure are meant to protect students from such harm. A students’ rights and privacy must be protected with such things implemented and actions are taken cyberbullying can become
The problem is that cyberbullying is an act that must be stopped, but putting limits on students' online speech is unnecessary. If you are not familiar with the word cyberbullying, it is a is when an individual is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another individual using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies. But yet again I bring the point that schools should not limit the amount of students online speech. Schools must protect students’ First Amendment rights, but also maintain the learning environment and safety at school. Three main reasons why schools should not limit students online speech are there is not a large percentage affected, it does not cause a significant disruption, and it is a violation of constitutional rights.
Students’ rights in schools are limited or just taken away. Kids are forced to do whatever the officials at their school, either the principal or the teachers, tell the students to do. One of the main right that gets taken away or limited is students’ first amendment rights, which is the freedom of expression. Students can gets suspended by just doing things the staff at the school does not like, including saying things that they don 't like or supporting a religion that the school does not support. Also, if something is said about the school or the people attending the school is said on social media that student can also get in a lot of trouble. Students should be able to have more first amendment
College campuses have always been the sites where students can express their opinions without fear. There have been many debates about the merits of allowing free speech on campus. Some students and faculties support allowing free speech on campus, while others believe that colleges should restrict free speech to make the college’s environment safer for every student. Free speeches are endangered on college campuses because of trigger warning, increasing policing of free speech, and the hypersensitivity of college students.
This sort of phenomenon makes major headlines regularly in recent times and effects a clear majority of today’s youth. State and local lawmakers have taken steps to prevent this type of bullying by making illegal under several criminal law codes. Michele Hamm, a researcher in pediatrics explained, “There were consistent associations between exposure to cyberbullying and increased likelihood of depression.” Cyberbullying became widespread among students with the rapid growth in use of cellular devices and the Internet. With this kind of technology bullies have the ability to send harmful messages to their recipients at any given time. This type of bullying is the hardest to control because it involves students but often happens off school grounds. However, because the evidence is material, students and parents could bring this evidence to the school and local police departments if a situation were to happen. Parents should be mindful of their child’s use of the internet and electronic messaging, cyberbullying usually takes place in a medium in which adults are seldom present (Mason, 2008). Also, instead of sending direct messages to other students, bullies use platforms such as social media and anonymous blogs to post harmful things for others to see. Educators must understand the significance of social media use to their students, especially
school goes against the First Amendment, whether it's in the classroom, over the loud speaker, or
Cyberbullying should be a criminal offense because whether it’s bullying or cyberbullying, it still damages a person emotionally and physically. Admittedly, many will argue that it is crossing the line to force perpetrators behind bars when it is not even bullying, but some foul words thrown in social sites. However, there is no difference between cyberbullying and offline bullying when it is still an issue that constantly eats away at its victims, abusing them with hurtful words and messages. “The United States Department of Health and Human Services calculated the percentages of bullied victims, where 37% of teens have been physically bullied, while 52% of teens have been cyberbullied” (Cyber/Bullying Statistics). Studies shown indicate that there have been more cases of cyberbullying than offline bullying, whereas people believe that “cyberbullying is not real bullying” and “it is to speak out in what...
With technology progressing, students are moving past face to face hectoring, and are verbally bullying other through social media. Cyberbullying can sometimes become more harmful than verbal, physical, and emotional bullying due to victims, not feeling like they have an escape route because they are threatened repeatedly through text messages, e-mails, social media, etc. The worst part about cyberbullying is that the things posted can be anonymous; therefore, there is no blame for who posts what. A victim can suspect that someone is to blame for the actions done, but there is no proof to solve a possible ongoing issue. Cyberbullying and bullying are actually considered a crime when someone: physically assaults another person, gender or racism is talked about, violent or deadly threats are made, sexually texting, inappropriate photos, stalking,