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Students’ rights don’t extend to doing damage
GRANT PELESKY; Puyallup
Last updated: October 30th, 2008 12:47 AM (PDT)
Matt Anderson, former editor in chief of the Puyallup High School newspaper, claims the new policy of Puyallup Public Schools “effectively strips students of any, and in this case all, First Amendment Rights they have to freedom of expression in schools” (reader column, 10-27).
Apparently Anderson believes the First Amendment entitles students to print anything they want, anytime they choose in a public publication they do not pay for.
The First Amendment does not give students (or adults) freedom to print material that has the potential to harm anymore than the Second Amendment allows you to foolishly brandish a gun in the public square while claiming your constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
Likewise, First Amendment “free expression” does not entitle students to create bombs out of chemicals they obtain in the high school chemistry laboratory. If the pen is mightier than the sword, then irresponsible ink slingers can be more dangerous than psychopathic sword swingers on a public school campus.
Happily, our duly elected representatives have enacted policies to protect us from both.
Originally published: October 30th, 2008 12:47 AM (PDT)
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