Embedded Files
With the recent Enough is Enough movement, school walkouts, and struggle over safe spaces, the time is now to realize and define our legal right to free speech as students. The struggle for free speech goes on!
With the recent Enough is Enough movement, school walkouts, and struggle over safe spaces, the time is now to realize and define our legal right to free speech as students. The struggle for free speech goes on!
Students lead a demonstration against lacking gun restrictions.
Students occupy a campus safe space and free speech zone.
Students walk out of school in protests for gun control.
The Law And You
The Law And You
Freedom of speech within public educational institutions must not be misconstrued as the freedom of speech citizens have in public or private life. Citizens outside the public educational system are granted freedom of speech by the First Amendment with few limitations. Regulations upon the First Amendment Rights of Students, however, is much more complicated.
"You can't disobey the rules every time you disapprove. That would be saying that the rules are valid only when they coincide with your conscience, which is to insist that only your conscience has any validity in the matter. However, when you're considering something that constitutes an extreme abridgment of your rights, conscience is the court of last resort"
"You can't disobey the rules every time you disapprove. That would be saying that the rules are valid only when they coincide with your conscience, which is to insist that only your conscience has any validity in the matter. However, when you're considering something that constitutes an extreme abridgment of your rights, conscience is the court of last resort"
-Mario Savio, Founder of the Free Speech Movement
In the News: Restrictions on Student Speech
In the News: Restrictions on Student Speech
Policies Guiding Students
Policies Guiding Students
The first part of this website describes how each of these tiers of authority affect a students ability to speak freely.
In Loco Parentis
In Loco Parentis
The basis of all restrictions upon student free speech stems from the concept of In Loco Parentis. Latin for "in the place of a parent," this concept bases the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent. Founded in British Common Law, In Loco Parentis allows institutions to act in the best interests their students autonomously, provided the institutions uphold the students' civil liberties.
American Law
American Law
Navigate each page for in depth summaries upon each law, piece of precedent, and ordinance that effects free speech in educational institutions
The Student Handbook on Free Speech
The Student Handbook on Free Speech
The numerous restrictions to student free speech necessitate a comprehensive guidebook to our rights in the classroom in order express ourselves in an educational atmosphere to the best of our abilities without punishment.
Now that you know your rights to educational free speech...
Now that you know your rights to educational free speech...
Have your rights been violated?
Have your rights been violated?
Contact The Student Press Law Center for help
Contact The Student Press Law Center for help
The nation's only legal assistance agency devoted exclusively to educating high school and college journalists about the rights and responsibilities embodied in the First Amendment, and supporting the student news media in covering important issues free from censorship. The SPLC provides free legal advice and information as well as low-cost educational materials for student journalists on a wide variety of topics.
Censored College Student?
Censored College Student?
Speech First will help you seek justice
Speech First will help you seek justice
A nationwide community to reassure students that they won’t fight these cases alone – and that they’ll be supported every step of the way: on campus, in the media, and in court, Speech First is a membership association of students, parents, faculty, alumni, and concerned citizens from across the country who’ve had enough, and who want to fight back.
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