Opinion ID: 177072
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Student Speech

Text: The maxim that students do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate, Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Cmty. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503, 506, 89 S.Ct. 733, 21 L.Ed.2d 731 (1969), is long-established and well-worn with limitations. Speech that can reasonably be regarded as encouraging illegal drug use may be restricted by school administrators. Morse v. Frederick, 551 U.S. 393, 397, 127 S.Ct. 2618, 168 L.Ed.2d 290 (2007). Schools may impose sanctions upon students for vulgar and lewd speech that serves to undermine the school's basic educational mission. Bethel Sch. Dist. v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675, 685, 106 S.Ct. 3159, 92 L.Ed.2d 549 (1986). Speech that could be perceived as affirmatively promoted by the school, as opposed to merely tolerated, may be further restricted so long as the school's limitation is reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns. Hazelwood Sch. Dist. v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260, 273, 108 S.Ct. 562, 98 L.Ed.2d 592 (1988). Student speech that does not fall within any of the above exceptions remains governed by the standard announced in Tinker : it may be restricted if the speech will materially and substantially disrupt the work and discipline of the school. Tinker, 393 U.S. at 513, 89 S.Ct. 733. To the extent that a school is in most instances a non-public forum, the school's limitations on student speech need only be reasonable and viewpoint neutral. Make the Rd. by Walking, Inc. v. Turner, 378 F.3d 133, 143 (2d Cir.2004). [2]