Amira Ansari Journalism

Law & Ethics Notes

The five freedoms of the First Ammendment
1. Petition of Government
2. Speech
3. Assembley
4. Religion
5. Press


The Tinker Standard - 1969

Tinker Vs. Des Moines School District
- Black Armbands in 1965
- Student speech cannot be censored as long as it does not "Materially disrupt class work or
involve substantial disorder or invasion of the rights of others."


The Fraser Standard - 1986
- Bethel School District vs. Fraser
- inappropriate speech for class president
- Because school officials have an "interest in teaching students the boundaries of socially
appropriate behavior," they can censor student speech that is vulgar or indecent, even
if it does not cause a "Material of substantial disruption."


The Hazelwood Standard - 1988
- Hazelwood School District vs. Kuhlmeier
- Censor stories in student newspaper about teen pregnancy and divorce
- Censorship of schoolsponsored student expression is permissible when school officials
can show that it is "reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns."
The Frederick Standard? - 2007
- Morse vs. Frederick (June 25, 2007)
- January 2002, Olympc torch travels through town
- Principal Morse cancels school
- Senior Frederick unveils banner on the sidewalk across street which reads "Bong hits 4 Jesus"
- Suspended for 10 days
- The school won because it was a school authorized event
Elements of Libel:
- Three components is defames someones character.
- It has to published (facebook, email, etc.) or spoken if slander.
- It is false information.
Libel cases are civil law and may be heard by the juries.
Opinions are not libel.

posted by Amira @ 10:41 AM