'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' case limits student rights

by ryan | June 25, 2007 at 01:03 pm | 372 views | 1 comment | 0 recommendations

The Supreme Court has finally ruled in the high profile case of the highschool student displaying a sign which read' Bong Hits 4 Jesus'. The issue at hand was whether or not the student's right to freedom of speech was violated when the he was banned from displaying the sign.

The court justified its ruling by claiming that the banner promoted illegal drug use. The ruling seems to be based on the fact that the term bong connotes marijuana use, however a bong can be used for any tobacco products so the decision seems to be somewhat weak.

The Supreme Court ruled against a former high school student Monday in the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner case -- a split decision that limits students' free speech rights.

Joseph Frederick was 18 when he unveiled the 14-foot paper sign on a public sidewalk outside his Juneau, Alaska, high school in 2002.

Principal Deborah Morse confiscated it and suspended Frederick. He sued, taking his case all the way to the nation's highest court.

The justices ruled 6-3 that Frederick's free speech rights were not violated by his suspension over what the majority's written opinion called a "sophomoric" banner.

"It was reasonable for (the principal) to conclude that the banner promoted illegal drug use-- and that failing to act would send a powerful message to the students in her charge," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court's majority.

Roberts added that while the court has limited student free speech rights in the past, young people do not give up all their First Amendment rights when they enter a school.