1st Amendment Rights for Teenagers—Questions for Debate
After reading the summaries of
Tinker v. Des Moines Inde-
pendent School District,
Hazelwood v. Kuklmeier,
and the
Board
of
Education v. Pico
, the following questions should be discussed. Many of the questions will overlap with questions from the other categories, and students in preparation for debate should consult cases from other areas for their relationship to one another and for supporting evidence.
Are there any books that you feel do not belong in a library? If yes, can you name one?
Who should decide whether a book is appropriate?
Should school officials be able to arbitrarily remove student articles from the school newspaper without giving reasons? From the school library?
Should books being used as part of a course in a classroom have the same rules of censorship as books in a library?
Should students writing for their school newspaper under the school “imprimatur” (seal or sponsorship) be subject to censorship by school officials?
Should students who have written a newspaper or pamphlet on their own at home be allowed to distribute these materials on school grounds?
Should all material written by students be available in the school library no matter how controversial? How do the Hazelwood and Pico cases relate?
Are there any types of articles that you think would “substantially disrupt” the learning process? If yes, what kinds of articles are they? Should they be removed? Who should decide?
Are there any types of protests or demonstrations by students that would “substantially disrupt” the learning process? If yes, should they be banned? Who should decide?
Does the decision in
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School
District
case contradict the decision in the
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
case? Do you agree with both decisions? If no, why?
Which of these three cases gives students the most freedom? The least? Why?