Thread: Freedom of Speech in Schools?

What about it? You can be punished for using racial slurs in school, for wearing a Christian Cross necklace, for having a strange haircut even. Schools do it to avoid conflict between students and also so as to not anger the parents of the students? But is it really ok? Is it ok to infringe on freedom of speech in school? Is it ok to tell kids how they should think and express themselves at a time when that is what they wanna do the most? If we teach our children that it is ok to ban free speech in one place doesnt that make any other place fair game as well? I personally think we should not tell kids how to think or dress or act. I think we should let them come out and express themselves because if they dont they will just be another faceless clone part of some mindless clique, and will regress into a pack mentality. If the kids express racist ideas, we should tell them WHY they are wrong, not ban them from doing it in the first place.


What do you guys think?

I think schools need to bring back corporal punishment. Most kids I've seen today would benefit from a sound ass beating.

Schools attempt to appeal to a child's better nature, but children have none, save what their parents instill. I'd love to see a school state, "You'll abide by civilized rules of conduct or you'll get your ass heated with a paddle." Unfortunately the ACLU and half the clueless, moronic adults who dare to call themselves parents would throw a fit.

Oddly enough, if such a policy were still in place in our schools, many of what people perceive as a student's "rights" would not be taken away.

Then again I'm also for public floggings for many offenses for adults. Pain and lack of pain is the best deterrent and teaching tool there is, because its an inherent mechanism for learning in all people.

Originally Posted by Water

I think schools need to bring back corporal punishment. Most kids I've seen today would benefit from a sound ass beating.

Schools attempt to appeal to a child's better nature, but children have none, save what their parents instill. I'd love to see a school state, "You'll abide by civilized rules of conduct or you'll get your ass heated with a paddle." Unfortunately the ACLU and half the clueless, moronic adults who dare to call themselves parents would throw a fit.

Oddly enough, if such a policy were still in place in our schools, many of what people perceive as a student's "rights" would not be taken away.

I think beating the kids would just make them wanna take revenge on the people who did it to them.

Originally Posted by Water

Then again I'm also for public floggings for many offenses for adults. Pain and lack of pain is the best deterrent and teaching tool there is, because its an inherent mechanism for learning in all people.

Back thee to 17th century New England! You'd do well in the archaic puritan type of society.

Not at all. It has nothing to do with puritain beliefs or even religion. Its simple biology.

I think that school age Americans should be entitled the same priviliges that all Americans. Today we are having our bill of rights, and the full constitution destroyed. The schools today treat our children as if they broke the law just by showing up for class, they fingerprint them for library check outs and school lunches. Children are being made to walk through metal detectors, and are randomly searched. It would seem that the next generation of adults will be trained to conform with what ever the government says. I find this disturbing, we have enough sheep and we need more free thinking individuals. Yes I believe we need safty in our schools but we should not allow liberties to be the price.

I disagree. Children are not citizens, and they cannot fall within the same framework of rights as an adult, for a variety of obvious reasons.

The propensity many display to guarantee students/children their "rights" is a large part of whats made our schools and our young such a mess to begin with. It begins to erode family, and take responsibility away from the parent and lay it at the feet of the state, and thats not a wise idea. Remember, it takes a village to raise an idiot; it takes a parent to raise a human being.

Originally Posted by Water

I disagree. Children are not citizens, and they cannot fall within the same framework of rights as an adult, for a variety of obvious reasons.

I don't know how many children that you may have but I raised 5 and am a Grandparent of 8. My children have all graduated high school and 6 of my grandchildren are in school. They are citizens of the United States and as such have rights that all citizens have. There are rules that they need to follow, but we all have rules. If children aren't citizens then what are they, and why the anchor baby rule? Are you saying that they should be subject to random search and siezier, unlawfull detention, not to practice their relegious beliefs?

I've raised several, and am a grandparent. Your personal feelings on the matter are irrelevant. Children are not citizens, in the eyes of the law, in the same way as an adult. They do not have the same rights, duties, obligations, etc. A child can be forced to live somewhere against their will. A child cannot vote. A child cannot work except under special circumstances, and a child is forced to attend school whether they wish it or not. They do enjoy special protection under the law, and have a unique status, but they are not citizens. Children have few of the same rights an adult has, and very few of the freedoms.

Children become citizens on age of majority, if they qualify (birth, parentage, etc), or earlier under special circumstances.