Student Speech and Privacy

The 老澳门开奖结果 works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.

Free Speech issue image

What's at Stake

In America, students do not lose their constitutional rights 鈥渁t the schoolhouse gate.鈥 The protection of students鈥 rights to free speech and privacy鈥攊n and out of school鈥攊s essential for ensuring that schools provide both quality education and training in our democratic system and values. Unfortunately, schools continue to demonstrate a disturbing willingness to abridge students鈥 rights. In recent years, educators have repeatedly disciplined students for speech critical of teachers and administrators. Likewise, we have seen a disturbing trend of schools鈥攅specially those providing important e-learning tools like laptops鈥攎onitoring students鈥 activities both on and off campus.

The 老澳门开奖结果 continues to be a leader in courts and statehouses across the country in protecting both students鈥 free speech rights and privacy. For instance, we have aggressively fought against policies that require students to surrender their social media passwords to school administrators. Our 鈥淒on鈥檛 Filter Me!鈥 project seeks to remove school Internet filters that block hundreds of LGBT websites. And we continue to litigate and advocate for legal privacy protections during school searches and seizures.

A school is not a constitutional dead zone. How can we expect today鈥檚 students to grow up to be tomorrow鈥檚 civic leaders if we do not respect these fundamental national values in our schools? If students are suspected of criminal activity, school administrators should be forced to make their case before searching students or seizing property. Likewise, students should be free from discipline for speaking out on issues of the day or criticizing teachers or officials. If we respect these principles in the schoolhouse, we protect them in the future.聽

In America, students do not lose their constitutional rights 鈥渁t the schoolhouse gate.鈥 The protection of students鈥 rights to free speech and privacy鈥攊n and out of school鈥攊s essential for ensuring that schools provide both quality education and training in our democratic system and values. Unfortunately, schools continue to demonstrate a disturbing willingness to abridge students鈥 rights. In recent years, educators have repeatedly disciplined students for speech critical of teachers and administrators. Likewise, we have seen a disturbing trend of schools鈥攅specially those providing important e-learning tools like laptops鈥攎onitoring students鈥 activities both on and off campus.

The 老澳门开奖结果 continues to be a leader in courts and statehouses across the country in protecting both students鈥 free speech rights and privacy. For instance, we have aggressively fought against policies that require students to surrender their social media passwords to school administrators. Our 鈥淒on鈥檛 Filter Me!鈥 project seeks to remove school Internet filters that block hundreds of LGBT websites. And we continue to litigate and advocate for legal privacy protections during school searches and seizures.

A school is not a constitutional dead zone. How can we expect today鈥檚 students to grow up to be tomorrow鈥檚 civic leaders if we do not respect these fundamental national values in our schools? If students are suspected of criminal activity, school administrators should be forced to make their case before searching students or seizing property. Likewise, students should be free from discipline for speaking out on issues of the day or criticizing teachers or officials. If we respect these principles in the schoolhouse, we protect them in the future.聽

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