Chapter 11

Chapter eleven titled, “Top Ten Rules that Govern School Authority Over Student Cyber Expressions,” makes a clear explanation of student’s First Amendment rights and the rights public schools have over those rights.  The chapter outlines the “Top Ten Rules of Govern” that has emerged from court precedents. Rule One: applies to First Amendment provisions where students have the right to express themselves freely on or off campus, but when those expressions, no matter how small, disrupt education, schools have the right to intervene.  Rule Two: schools may sanction or censor expression if school leaders feel the expression may cause a disruption in school activities. Rule Three: if the expression interferes with the education rights of other students.  Rule Four: school leaders have the authority to prohibit lewd, vulgar, or profane language.  Rule Five: school leaders have the right to prohibit expressions that are grammatically incorrect, poorly researched, and expressions that misrepresent the school.  Rule Six: school leaders may sanction school sponsored expression, including media material and field trips. Rule Seven: reinforces rule six giving school leaders complete authority over pedagogical purposes. Rule Eight: a school has no authority to regulate a student’s off campus activates. Rule Nine: schools have the right to instill the morals, values and norms of the larger society.  Rule Ten: schools have the right to restrict student expression outside the campus if there is a concern or threat for illegal criminal activity or moral conduct.

                My reflection on chapter eleven.  Because of today’s technology, I think these rules are needed more than ever.  School leaders must be careful they are not allowing students on or off campus a way to promote cyber bullying, hate crimes, and hurtful messages that can interfere with the education process.