The Supreme Court is currently considering the case of an Alaska student who was expelled for 10 days for hanging a sign that read "Bong Hits For Jesus"at school gathering off campus for the school to see the Olympic Torch pass by. Matt Fraser, a litigant in the precedent setting students rights case Bethel v. Fraser, discusses the current case and the impact on education. Fraser defended his first ammendment rights against the Bethel School Distric when the school suspended Fraser after for making this speech at a school wide assembly for student body elections:

"I know a man who is firm - he's firm in his pants, he's firm in his shirt, his character is firm - but most [of] all, his belief in you the students of Bethel, is firm. Jeff Kuhlman is a man who takes his point and pounds it in. If necessary, he'll take an issue and nail it to the wall. He doesn't attack things in spurts - he drives hard, pushing and pushing until finally - he succeeds. Jeff is a man who will go to the very end - even the climax, for each and every one of you."

The above is the speech that landed Fraser in suspension, and the school district before the Supreme Court. The Court ruled that the school district has the right to restrict Fraser's right to say such things in school. Do you agree with the court here?

Now to the current case. Do you think the "Bong Hits" student has a constitutional right to express himself by hanging the sign? Why would the constitution treat the student's First Ammendment protection any different from that of an adult? Is there a compelling state interest that overrides even first ammendment protections for students? What are the long term impacts of the Court allowing a government office to restrict the First Ammendment rights of students whenever they deem a disruption to have? occurred?

The opening sentence of Chapter II in J.S. Mill's classic On Liberty is telling: "The time, it is to be hoped, is gone by when any defense would be necessary of the "liberty of the press" as one of the securities against corrupt or tyrannical government. even if the received opinion be not only true, but the whole truth; unless it is suffered to be, and actually is, vigorously and earnestly contested, it will, by most of those who receive it, be held in the manner of a prejudice, with little comprehension or feeling of its rational grounds. And not only this, but the meaning of the doctrine itself will be in danger of being lost, or enfeebled, and deprived of its vital effect on the character and conduct: the dogma becoming a mere formal profession, inefficacious for good, but cumbering the ground, and preventing the growth of any real and heartfelt conviction, from reason or personal experience."

Well put! Please express yourself freely in a comment to this tape. The recording quality is not perfect and the very beggining was not captured, but there are a lot of important issues hanging in the balance of this court case for students all over this country.

Radio Show On "Bong Hits For Jesus Case"
Matt Fraser of Bethel v. Fraser (Supreme Court precedent) analyzes the current case.

3. Blog with updated info on the case and access to court documents.
Blog Updating The Case


The Supreme Court is currently considering the case of an Alaska student who was expelled for 10 days for hanging a sign that read "Bong Hits For Jesus"at school gathering off campus for the school to see the Olympic Torch pass by. Matt Fraser, a litigant in the precedent setting students rights case Bethel v. Fraser, discusses the current case and the impact on education. Fraser defended his first ammendment rights against the Bethel School Distric when the school suspended Fraser after for making this speech at a school wide assembly for student body elections:

"I know a man who is firm - he's firm in his pants, he's firm in his shirt, his character is firm - but most [of] all, his belief in you the students of Bethel, is firm. Jeff Kuhlman is a man who takes his point and pounds it in. If necessary, he'll take an issue and nail it to the wall. He doesn't attack things in spurts - he drives hard, pushing and pushing until finally - he succeeds. Jeff is a man who will go to the very end - even the climax, for each and every one of you."

The above is the speech that landed Fraser in suspension, and the school district before the Supreme Court. The Court ruled that the school district has the right to restrict Fraser's right to say such things in school. Do you agree with the court here?

Now to the current case. Do you think the "Bong Hits" student has a constitutional right to express himself by hanging the sign? Why would the constitution treat the student's First Ammendment protection any different from that of an adult? Is there a compelling state interest that overrides even first ammendment protections for students? What are the long term impacts of the Court allowing a government office to restrict the First Ammendment rights of students whenever they deem a disruption to have? occurred?

The opening sentence of Chapter II in J.S. Mill's classic On Liberty is telling: "The time, it is to be hoped, is gone by when any defense would be necessary of the "liberty of the press" as one of the securities against corrupt or tyrannical government. even if the received opinion be not only true, but the whole truth; unless it is suffered to be, and actually is, vigorously and earnestly contested, it will, by most of those who receive it, be held in the manner of a prejudice, with little comprehension or feeling of its rational grounds. And not only this, but the meaning of the doctrine itself will be in danger of being lost, or enfeebled, and deprived of its vital effect on the character and conduct: the dogma becoming a mere formal profession, inefficacious for good, but cumbering the ground, and preventing the growth of any real and heartfelt conviction, from reason or personal experience."

Well put! Please express yourself freely in a comment to this tape. The recording quality is not perfect and the very beggining was not captured, but there are a lot of important issues hanging in the balance of this court case for students all over this country.

Radio Show On "Bong Hits For Jesus Case"
Matt Fraser of Bethel v. Fraser (Supreme Court precedent) analyzes the current case.