"Bong Hits 4 Jesus"

Reuters @ Yahoo:Court upholds "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" student banner

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - An Alaska high school violated a student's free speech rights by suspending him after he unfurled a banner reading 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' across the street from the school, a federal court ruled on Friday.

Principal Deborah Morse seized the banner and suspended the 18-year-old for 10 days, saying he had undermined the school's educational mission and anti-drug stance.

"Public schools are instrumentalities of government, and government is not entitled to suppress speech that undermines whatever missions it defines for itself," Judge Andrew Kleinfeld wrote in the court's opinion.

The court also cleared the way for Frederick to seek damages, saying Morse was aware of relevant case law and should have known her actions violated his rights.

Principal Morse should be sentenced to a full semester of her own school's government/civics class. Or would that violate the 8th amendment?

Technorati Tags: free speech, censorship, schools

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