16 Year Old High School Case Study

As seen in previous cases like Tinker vs. Des Moines, students have the right to political say, unless it causes disruption at school of students are promoting something that goes against the law. In the case of Tinker v Des Moines the students were not promoting anything illegal but showed their thought on the Vietnam War by wearing black armbands (Tinker). Argued in court by Kenneth W. Starr in the Morse v. Frederick case, he gave the idea that the foundation for school censorship was the case of Tinker v. Des Moines (Morse). The Justices responded back saying, that case was a different scenario as the students weren 't doing anything against the law while Frederick was encouraging the use of marijuana which was illegal (Morse).

One of the many landmark cases heard by the United States Supreme Court in American

There have been many supreme and district court cases that involve the first amendment. Your First Amendment rights are a heavily debated topic. Students, in particular, walk a very fine line regard to their free speech. Schools, students, and the federal government are still trying to figure out where they stand. Within this essay there are three main topics that I wish to cover; they are as follows Dress Code, Student Free Speech, and Internet Use. Every case within these topics is argued with the First Amendment in hand, though not all of them conclude the same. I hope you enjoy educating yourself on this tedious topic!

Students get in trouble for several dress code violations because school dress code is too strict. Mostly dealing with shorts, shirts, sometimes backpacks, and uniforms. These are some of the biggest issues in school that teachers and the school districts need to understand.

Gene is a 16 year old boy attending the Devon boarding school in the year 1942. He is an introvert who is trying to find himself throughout the book, A Separate Peace. Gene befriends a boy named Phineas, or Finny. Finny is the exact opposite of Gene, he is an extrovert who likes adventure and breaking rules. The two boys become close friends, but throughout their friendship Gene is jealous of Finny. Gene excels in academics, while Finny is fun and great athlete. Finny is the leader in the friendship and Gene feels that Finny is very controlling almost bullying him. Gene and Finny are both competitive, but Genes thinks that Finny wants to compete with him in everything. Gene is the protagonist in the story due to his competitive nature and his jealousy of Finny.

The Equal Access Act upheld by the Supreme Court in Board of Education v. Mergens, 1990, requires public secondary schools to allow access to religiously based student groups on the same basis as other student clubs. The school administration denied a group of students their right to create a Christian after school club. The students intended for their club to have just the same privileges and club meetings as all other after school clubs. The schools excuse being that it lacked faculty support which led to the school and district being sued by the students. “The students alleged that Westside 's refusal violated the Equal Access Act, which requires that schools in receipt of federal funds provide "equal access" to student groups seeking to express "religious, political, philosophical, or other content" messages” (Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens by and Through Mergens). Many still argue today that Westside 's prohibition against the Christian club, consistent with the Establishment Clause, makes the Equal Access Act unconstitutional.

Some commonly known examples are the Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) and Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser (1986). Recently in Oregon an eighth grader was suspended for wearing a t-shirt displaying an image of fallen soldiers with the words “Standing for those who stood for us,” However the t-shirt also included images of boots, a helmet, and a gun, school officials claimed this shirt was offensive and told the eighth grader to change his shirt. When he refused he was given an ultimatum: remove the shirt or be suspended.

Being able to choose what to wear is a right students are allowed to have, but schools are constantly trying to change that. Religious wear is not being accepted as part of the dress code causing problems between the school and the student whose identity is being taken away from them along with the boy who could not stand trying to be like everyone and ended his own life. Down to the basic right as a human to experience life just as anyone else has. There are many more reason as to why schools should allow students to dress how they want to, but these three reasons provide all of the points needed. Overall, schools should get rid of the dress codes enforced and allow the students to explore their

A student, Brandon, was denied admission into a radiation therapy program because when asked about what the most important thing in his life was, he stated, “My God.” According to the article, the program director, Dr. Dougherty, told Brandon, “I understand that religion is a major part of your life…however, this field is not the place for religion…” A similar thing happened to another student, Dustin, who replied to a question asked by Dr. Dougherty about the guiding principle in his life with, “My Faith” (Clark). The university backed the professor and stated, students would be better off to “have a concrete reason for wanting to do undertake training at hand than to say only that God directed one to do it” (Clark). Both of these cases are in federal court with the American Center for Law and Justice stating, “This college’s anti-Christian discrimination in not only unconscionable, it’s unconstitutional.” An alarming incident also occurred in the state of California when elementary principal, Craig Richter, was disciplined because he appeared in a short promotional video for a teacher’s prayer breakfast organized to honor educators (Samuel). The article states that the video was viewed by a school

Zero-tolerance policies are policies that have been adapted in work places, communities, and, most frequently, schools. Depending on how certain schools are run and who they are run by, zero-tolerance policies could be positive and helpful or negative and harmful. Many people wonder are these policies really effective in reducing crime and creating safer environments in schools like lawmakers claim these policies are doing; most of the opponents to zero-tolerance policies believe that the policies are just cruel punishments that add to the problems that already exist in our schools and communities. There are obviously those who feel that the policies do exactly what they say they do; advocates for zero-tolerance policies

It 's fair to agree with a policy that claims stringent dress codes increase the emphasis on academics and reduce the pressure of socioeconomic status; however, these dress codes violate the students First Amendment right to freedom of expression and the parents’ Fourteenth Amendment right to raise their children in their own way. In 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District upheld the right to freedom of speech of students to protest the Vietnam war by wearing black armbands. The case explained the problem that “students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” (Student) As students, we are free to express ourselves through what we wear. As students, we have every right to proclaim our beliefs

First, there are many dress code rules in schools. A handful of these rules include, no hats, no illegal substances can be advertised on garments, no sunglasses, and jackets must be worn with good taste (“Student”). Rules directed at a specific gender includes, “Female student can wear unsleeved garments that adequately cover their undergarments” (“Student”), and, ”Male students have to wear sleeved garments” (“Student”). With rules comes opinions, and with opinions comes arguments.

We the people of Russell Kansas find our safety, community, and families at risk! These past couple of years we have been disturbed by the drugs and festation of the people committing theses crimes and acts around us. Russell is known for our quiet country feel where are children can be safe to run and play without the worries because of our self engaging community. Since the years, we are noticing large amounts of drugs soaring through or streets in which have began to affect the unimaginable. Our concern for the safety of our wellbeing would be in better hands if there was more law enforcement to help fulfill these uneasy feelings.

Have you ever gotten dress coded? Well, I have, even though what I was wearing wasn’t even bad. Schools have always had a problem with the dress code because students want to wear what they like! First, everyone expresses themselves in many ways. When teens express themselves through their clothes they shouldn 't get punished for it. Second, a dress code should not harm anyone 's religion or heritage background. Kids shouldn’t have to worry about getting dress coded for the way they look because if it was how they were raised they shouldn’t have to get looked down on for it. Although, it can help with kids and teens getting teased. Kids don’t just get teased for their clothes, it could be anything and that will never change. Teens should be able to wear clothes they want and not what the schools want.

Many high schools have implemented dress codes that set rules for what students can and cannot wear while on school premises, and yet many people disagree with these policies. Though arguments can be made for either side, a dress code can have a very positive outcome for all parties involved. A fixed dress code promotes professionalism in a learning environment, and contrary to popular belief, it does not limit a student’s freedom of expression. Last but not least it encourages equality and acceptance among their peers. A dress code can be reasonable if used in proper situations that require certain attires. I believe there is indeed a need for a dress code for it to be able to maintain an atmosphere conducive for learning.