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Schools Crack Down on Students' Blogs
online.wsj.com — Some schools are punishing students for things written on their personal Web pages, raising questions about how far a principal's oversight should reach.
carlbialikwsj- 1173 diggs
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- hckynck20, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I think this is wrong the school has no right to govern students outside of school, what happened to freedom of speech?
- mcfo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4It's all good practice for the students. After all, they are going to be so heavily monitored by their own Govt.'s they might as well get used to it now and learn how to say it without saying it.
- tcybulski, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2A couple kids from my school got expelled last year related to things people wrote on their blogs. I guess parents read their kids' blogs, and found some drug references. They put pressure on the administration to do something about it, which resulted in locker checks and a couple of expulsions. It is now common practice at my school to "friends only" everything.
- x2dx, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Id tell that principal to go f him self he has no right telling me what I can and cant go outside of school. (Photoshops picture of principal and posts on blog)
- Verisimilitude, on 10/12/2007, -7/+10Aren't liberal "hurt no one", "make things fair" bureaucracies fun?
The problem with "protecting everyone" and "zero tolerance" is they protect no one and are intollerant. har har har - 3dge, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3This is not a black and white issue. Although I think that it will rightfully be found that (for public schools anyway) the kids will be protected under the first amendment, blogs can be used to further bully students and harass faculty and staff. Perhaps teachers, administrators and families will begin suing bloggers for defamation and libel. The first amendment lets you say anything you want, but does not protect you from the consequences of that speech.
- TheNik, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1"I think this is wrong the school has no right to govern students outside of school, what happened to freedom of speech?"
People voted republican. - yourmom, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0trinity sucks.
- Hamsterpotpies, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0my skool did this all ready.
- jeffreym, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Here's more injustices:
http://celestial-reasoning.blogspot.com/2005/10/two-scary-stories-for-halloween.html - MikeKnoop, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Hell, this is just as bad as Jack Thompson's issue with video games.
If I got "caught" posting something, I would deny it. After all, this is the internet, and they can't prove it was you unless they get a search warrant for your harddrive. And to add credibility to your denial, I would create fake accounts posing as other classmates, or the principal beforehand.
-Mike - DasVersteckte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I remember reading about how a case like this made it to SCOTUS and how they ruled in favor of the student. I can't seem to find the Docket but it is out there.
- bab7880, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This is just stupid.
I agree with 3dge about the first amendment backing them but the school's reach should only account for what is don't at school (or during school hours, such as those that let kids leave for lunch)
Mabye if a school computer was involved in the blog posting, but the article states otherwise.
This is silly and needs to get some major attention before it becomes a problem.
Our Freedom of Speech is slowly being taken away. - etjrowe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Anyone that goes that far to violate the first amendment rights of a young mind, that they are paid to teach, should never be allowed to work in education again.
- sleepless, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I write my personal blog in english on a blogsite that is administered in Japan.
http://www.yaplog.jp/
Pretty cool site. They even have some basic web stats that let you see just how unpopular your blog is. :-) - evilxhwnd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Recently a kid got suspended at my school for making a myspace for one of our gym teachers. he deserved it though, he was using it to make fun of the guy, calling him a homosexual among other things... Even had pictures of the teacher up.
- Estazor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i don't agree with this. While I don't support harrassing someone on your blog I don't feel it's the schools responsibility to punish someone for an act that happened outside of school. If anything the parents should get involved and meet with the other parents. The schools have no business to be involved in atleast the situation talked about in the article and one similar.
- MikeKnoop, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'm not sure how other schools work, but I assume that every school has it's own student handbook. And in the past, the school HAD to adhere to punishments in the handbook, I'm wondering on what grounds they were actually suspended on.
-Mike - PowerCow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1if parents are nolonger responsible for their own children...why do they have to feed them?
I mean this is america and if we are going to live in a tolitarian society we need to do it right. Send the kids to homeland security camps...teach them to obey the gov and not question its actions before 13..cut down on all them annoying pesky protests and such.
I hear the chocolate rations are going up again.. double plus good. - Scourge, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think this is totally a violation of the First Amendment. What's next? Illegal to write in cursive?
- lampy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"Aren't liberal "hurt no one", "make things fair" bureaucracies fun?
The problem with "protecting everyone" and "zero tolerance" is they protect no one and are intollerant. har har har"
I hate to tell you this Verisimilitude, but those who oppose this type of undue punishment and censorship are liberals. The biggest fighters against these type of First Amendment violations is the ACLU, commonly referred to as liberal group. Also, I'd bet if any student got suspended and wanted to get legal advice/representation that the ACLU would gladly help them if they were called. - H_o_p_s, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0'I'm wondering on what grounds they were actually suspended on.'
Harassment - j0c1f3r, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I'd jump the principal and take away his right to walk properly....see if he still feels like being a *****..
- Crazd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1There was a case similar to this in my town in which a student made a personal website and was suspended for it. He sued the school and won big time, over $100,000 if I recall. Although the kid is quite a jerk in person, the court made the right decision and his rights were definitely violated.
Link: http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=12381 - TacitusBen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Another reminder to young people in America that they simply aren't human beings yet.
- VoodooRock, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'm moving to another country. America isn't the land of the free anymore. It's become the Land of the Watched and Probed. I have a Myspace and I'm honestly scared. I understand the parents were concerned about their kids and they have every right to be concerned. The schools, however, don't need to get involved, especially when it isn't their job. I don't know how many times I've heard a teacher get angry in class and say that they aren't there to babysit. Unless the life of students and faculty are in direct jeopardy, then the school has no right to monitor the blogs and flickr accounts of their students.
- yrufat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"...banned the students at its 58 elementary schools and five high schools from maintaining personal Web pages on sites like MySpace and Xanga, a blogging service."
That's a bit extreme.
The internet and blogs shouldn't be restricted from students opinions. Little Johnny tells his friends in the park that Mr. Phillips is an Ahole. Do the schools prohibit their students from socializing in the park because of what's said there? - kungfustickman, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0It all depends. If we're talking about high school and middle school the thing you have to keep in mind is that some of these kids are punks and don't deserve certain rights.
Children aren't entitled to constitutional rights. At least that's the case in my State. - azwethinkweizm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I remember making fun a school's band because they all screwed up at halftime. My director tried to get me to remove it and I refused. Let's just say that band wasn't fun after that.
- LowGan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0the government is slowly taking away our rights...bah
- azwethinkweizm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Also, do you guys know why FOX bought myspace for $400 million?
Info. They now have tons of info on you guys now. Beware! They are watching you.
Oh and...
"It all depends. If we're talking about high school and middle school the thing you have to keep in mind is that some of these kids are punks and don't deserve certain rights.
Children aren't entitled to constitutional rights. At least that's the case in my State."
The constitution states that this applies to all peoples of America. It does not exclude people due to their age. - azwethinkweizm, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0"You can't infringe on others rights and expect to be protected from repercussions by the constitution."
What rights are being infringed? - Buddybot111, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I think it really depends on the content of the blog. Recently lots of "school threats" have been posted on blogs it seems and when anything about the school is posted on a blog the school has a right to get involved. Now the question is how do u know there posting about you without already getting involved? It's a simple answer, since really blogs are ment as PUBLIC diarys there is no difference between a friend or a school administrator looking at it. You dont need some kind of search warrant the whole idea of blogs is that there public. If the school catches them swearing or not following some ethics rules they shouldn't be able to do anything, but when the school catches them threatening teachers or implying they want to vandalize or do something bad to the school, the school has every right to get involved. Furthermore for plain swearing in every sentence, seems to be popular these days, the parents should also look at there sons or daughters blogs. Again its suppost to be public so theres nothing wrong with it.
- azwethinkweizm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I should be able to speak without repercussions! If not, that totally defeats the purpose of the consititution. I should be able to make fun of somebody with no worries. If not, then let's move the ever so free Iraq...
- ompa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0So, let's be honest; I bet some teachers talk about their students with other teachers. Hence, shouldn't THEY lose their jobs as well? I mean, no matter where they are, they're obviously hurting the feelings of students. You know, insults are going to happen everywhere. Get used to it, or better start banning starbucks.
I'm almost half-expecting my monitor to turn into a telescreen... "YOU! STOP TYPING INSULTS ABOUT JOHN!"
Everyone run it's the thought police!! - fyulaba, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The schools are going about this all wrong. Although I believe whole heartidly in free speech, I also believe that a person should be accountable for how they use that freedom.
If you want to maintain a public blog on the web in which you state your opinion of your school principal is that he is an a-hole and a dictator, you certainly do have that right. On the flip side of that, the principal in question also has the full right to react to these publicly expressed opinions.
I do believe that the schools are wrong in up and suspending these students but at the same time, we are all (and should be) accountable for our actions.
I believe that we're wasting time and money trying to find how current laws govern these types of situations. We need new, fair laws for this new medium. - NetElemental, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I host a forum for my school. If they ever attempt to crack down on any complaints I will simply force all users to log in, add a requirement to the regstration that you are not older than 18, and ban all teacher accounts. Simple.
- MikeKnoop, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Someone up there said they would be suspended under Harrassment.
I just read our school handbook policy on harrassment, and in the very first paragraph, it implies that the threat or harrassment must happen on School ground, a school vehicle, or any event or time where the District has supervision.
-Mike - Potassium, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0From personal experience and reading the news, I'm amazed how often public schools have to be sued to stop them from violating students/employees civil rights.
Funny though, much hated lawyers will be the ones, through the government (the courts) that reintroduce this principal to a little thing called the Bill of Rights. - uptown, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Seems to be overreaching their legal rights as far as I'm concerned. Students should just head on over to http://www.ratemyteachers.com and voice their opinions there instead.
- ham_man, on 10/12/2007, -1/+02+2=5
... - shooby, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!! OMFG! I do a podcast, and I know a few teachers listen, but I still say what's on my mind. If someone wishes not to be mentioned, I just say "a person" yada yada yada. But if I were approached by my school to stop talking about a certain topic, I'd bring out a copy of the Bill of Rights and point to Ammendment 1!
- colincsl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"I hear the chocolate rations are going up again.. double plus good."
I knew someone was going to throw a reference like that up. :D - azwethinkweizm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I say just do it the libertarian way and when they tell you that you're being suspended just say:
When's my trial? If you won't declare my right to free speech at least give me my right to due process.
lol - trampish, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Oh gosh, the dean of boarding boys at my high school joined the facebook.com and found a group that made fun of this retarded midget janitor that some kid had started and ended up punishing the kid who started it and giving stern talkings to anyone who had joined it.
On a similar note, a kid I know was put on a mandatory "medical leave" for posting angry sentiments in his livejournal about his family, the school and other students. Alot of this content can be used by a student who may not like the poster as leverage to get them punished etc.
Diggity for relevance. - secretivecoward, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Students can't post threats or harass other students, post photos of illegal activities, in their blog. they are free to post anything they want otherwise.
- mbwilliamson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0You know, the simplest thing to do would be to keep the blog anonymous. There would be no direct evidence and you could write whatever you want. Furthermore, schools should be teaching, not parenting. If the parents aren't bothered by it, tough luck.
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