[Jack R.]

Should high school teachers have the right to punish students for merely demonstrating their right of free speech, including using 'bad language'?

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Name : Jack R., Gender : M, Age : 17, City : Sutter Creek, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : High school student, 

[Stacee27907]

First, the right of free speech is not absolute for anyone. Slander, inciting to riot and child pornography are examples of unprotected speech.

Second, minors' rights are further circumscribed for their protection and instruction. This may seem unfair. You are 17, only one year from being legally an adult. But the line has to be drawn somewhere, and right now, for many things, that age is 18.

Finally, the atmosphere of a school is a special case. Teachers have the obligation to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn. If one student is being disruptive, for example by using foul or hateful language, others are being robbed of the chance to learn in a non-threatening atmosphere. (Now if teachers are shutting students up because they don't want to hear an opposing viewpoint, that's another issue, one that probably should be addressed by parents.)

Look on these restrictions as a challenge. It is really an opportunity to grow. In the adult world you will not always be able to say what you want, when you want, to anyone you want. People will challenge your views, and you will have to defend them with a logical, reasoned argument. You will frequently have to use tact, diplomacy and a sense of decorum (being able to discern the proper time and place to make your point). High school is a good place to learn.

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Name : Stacee27907, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 30, City : Houston, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : TV production, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Roy R.]

You bring up an important point about free speech. Does a person have the right to "offend" someone? Loud rap music blaring from a car with several hundred amps of stereo power has been outlawed in some communities (and I daresay rightly so). A teacher should have the right and obligation to keep his students in control. I had to eat soap when I was a child when I said a bad word on the playground. The ultra-liberal NEA has made a doormat out of freedom of speech, and look what it has brought us.

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Name : Roy R., Gender : M, Age : 37, City : Reno, State : NV Country : United States, 

[Jane]

As a mother, educator and twenty-something, I have found that punishing a student for expressing himself/herself using what "adults" deem as bad or inappropriate language to be ineffective and petty. "Curse" and "swear" words were created by whom? And their relevance was made an issue by religious fanatics whose ears were burned by the very mention of even the tamest words (i.e. we still cringe when someone says "ass," you know?).

Abusive language, however, is not tolerable; that is language that is malicious, hurtful or demeaning. Unfortunately, words like "faggot" and "bitch" are still used to describe people and always will, but understanding the difference between malicious titles and words of expression will help you develop your own sense of right and wrong concerning this situation. (Personally, I would rather be called an MF than a whore because the latter carrries so much more of a negative emphasis.) Just be cautious when using your words and realize there is an appropriate time and place to use those phrases.

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Name : Jane, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 28, City : San Diego, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Paralegal, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[John K.]

Just as you do not have the "right" to scream "fire!" in a crowded theater, you do not have the right to disrupt your teacher's classroom without penalty. It is also a matter of respect. No matter what you may think of your teacher personally, that teacher is in a position of authority within his or her classroom. Of course, I would also have to wonder why you would feel the need to express yourself with foul langauge in a classroom.

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Name : John K., Gender : M, Age : 26, City : Cranford, State : NJ Country : United States, Occupation : Chemical Engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[K.J.]

Roy, I respectfully disagree. Freedom of speech does, in fact, include speech that is offensive. In fact, I think that is the very speech the First Amendment was meant to protect. Speech that is considered acceptable to the majority is in no need of protection. It is the unpopular, inflammatory speech that is in need of the guarantees of the First Amendment.

I'd be curious to know what it is that you think the "liberal NEA" and its making a doormat out of the First Amendment has brought us.

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Name : K.J., Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Episcopalian, Age : 47, City : Burke, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : Systems Analyst, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Andrew]

Sometimes different rights conflict with each other. It may not be so clear-cut that your teacher is punishing you for exercising your free speech rights. Is your "bad language" restricting other students' rights to an education? Is your free speech disrupting other people's rights to not be harassed?

Rights come with responsibilities, and if your exercise of your rights hurts other people, it very may well be appropriate to discipline you. Sometimes it's not easy to know where to draw the line.

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Name : Andrew, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 35, City : Huntington, State : NY Country : United States, Occupation : Reporter, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Julie-N]

I think what teachers are trying to do is raise the moral standards, which I have no problem with. But they then preach freedom of speech. They also use bad language in class (at least at my school). But in the case of free speech vs. detention hall, modesty and good judgment should be present in free speech.

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Name : Julie-N, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 16, City : Springfield, State : MO Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Katie]

Good question. As a matter of principle, teachers urge students to go beyond curse words and exercise real vocabulary power. After all, anyone can use curse words but cursing doesn't make you look mature; it just like you grew up in a barn without any proper rearing. If you use a word *as* a word (ie, 'what is the meaning of ___') then it's being used in a whole other context. You also have to guard against hate/bias speech too, since words don't just have the dictionary denotation, but they also have emotional connotations too. Plus, it's not only what you say, it's how you say it as well. Hope this answers your question.

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Name : Katie, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Episcopalian, Age : 37, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[ShirleyAvery]

It's not a matter of free speech. It's a matter of appropriate speech and personal discipline. The purpose of school is to teach new information, AND the kind of behavior you'll need if you want a job better than flipping burgers. FRankly, you wouldn't last long even working at McDonalds if you "spoke your mind" in front of customers. You can talk with your friends on your own time in whatever way you want as long as you're not harassing someone else. School is not there for your entertainment. It's educational and just as I hated math classes, it was a good discipline and I have actually applied some things I learned. Just Curious

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Name : ShirleyAvery, Gender : F, Disability : none, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 52, City : st. louis, State : MO Country : United States, Occupation : writer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Dot]

Cursing is what stupid people do when they don't have the vocabulary to express themselves using real words. Plenty of dissenters from Martin Luther to Noam Chomsky have managed to demonstrate free speech without resorting to crude vulgarity. The challenge for teachers is to create students who can express themselves using acceptable language. Cursing in and of itself is not free speech. Free speech is the dissemination of ideas.

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Name : Dot, Gender : Female, Age : none, City : L.A., State : CA Country : United States, Social class : Middle class, 

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