Freedom of speech and its limits
Freedom of expression in public schools is both a topic of research and a right that students have. Students in public schools, according to the United States Supreme Court, "do not give up their constitutional rights to free speech and expression at the schoolhouse gate." However, school officials frequently exercise their responsibilities to regulate free expression when it endangers the rights of others or disrupts the educational environment. Such restrictions elicit complaints about infringement of the student's rights. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, students have the freedom to express their views on abortion, as well as their support for various social activities and moral values. Despite this, many school districts strive to limit them due to community pressure.
Schools can and do limit students' freedom of expression in a variety of ways. They cannot prohibit free speech, but they can prohibit defamatory speech. They have the authority to prohibit obscene or pornographic expression. If they want to prohibit the wearing of hats that support a specific message, they must prohibit the wearing of all hats. In short, while learning about the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment and the rest of the Bill of Rights, students may be required to be mindful of their obligations to their fellow citizens, who share the same liberties. Freedom of speech in public schools, like any other aspect of American life, is and will likely always be a source of contention.
