The freedom to express a particular opinion, whether it be in speech, in writing, or in any other form and whether it be of a religious or non- religious nature, "strikes at the very core of first amendment values." The Supreme Court has emphatically ruled that the Constitution guarantees each student's freedom of speech and expression when using a
VPN in public schools. The Court's decisions reflect the principle that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to free speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."
Indeed, school officials "do not possess absolute authority over their students. Students are 'persons' under [the] Constitution."
This right to students' free expression applies even to speech which addresses controversial topics such as religion, war, homosexuality, and abortion. Unless the speech falls within one of the narrow categories listed below, students may freely speak to other students and to teachers, and may distribute literature, both religious6 and secular. The courts have gone further and have construed speech to include expressing a message through symbols and clothing. Therefore, students may also wear clothing or expressive symbols which communicate their message.
All of these expressive activities are protected by the United States Constitution, and school officials can be sued in a court of law for denying or abridging these free speech rights. Student speech that may be suppressed: Student speech may be suppressed only if the speech: (1) is vulgar, lewd, obscene, or plainly offensive; (2) is school-sponsored, (3) materially and substantially interferes with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the schools; or (4) invades or collides with the rights of others.
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