Suggests the rights of high school students to access and use their schools' Internet resources are confusing and complicated. Discusses authorized user policies, freedom of expression, and the Internet as a library. Concludes that until the Supreme Court establishes a legal precedent, students, parents, administrators, and teachers are left the…

The question of whether there should continue to be subsidy for magazines and newspapers through low second class postal rates (eliminated by the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970) is examined in light of First Amendment objectives of an informed electorate. Judicial remedy is deemed unlikely and legislative reconsideration of such subsidy…

A collection of 12 articles, this yearbook focuses on freedom of speech and censorship. The topics covered include (1) common law tort and contract erosion of the at will rule, (2) the Supreme Court and the First Amendment in 1983-1984, (3) a phenomenological analysis of the First Amendment and the issue of obscenity, (4) John Milton's attack on…

Discusses the progress of anti-Hazelwood legislation, and lists the five states with student free expression laws: California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, and Massachusetts. Notes that 16 states have made no attempts to counteract the ruling of Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier. Describes the limits of the laws existing in the five states with…

This compilation of materials from the SLATE (Support for the Learning and Teaching of English) Steering Committee of the National Council of Teachers of English reflects the ongoing concerns and discussions that SLATE has held about the free exchange of thoughts and ideas throughout its history. The collection contains "starter sheets"…

To examine the status of opinion as protected speech, a study sought answers to three questions: (1) Is opinion protected under the constitution? (2) If protection exists for opinion, has it usurped the common law fair comment defense in libel litigation? and (3) How do the courts define opinion in the context of libel? Answers were sought in…

The purpose of this paper is to help identify newspaper advertisements which fall under the protection of the First Amendment. Although the Supreme Court declared in 1942 that advertisements which propose a purely commercial transaction were not protected by the First Amendment, in 1976 it decided that commercial expression, like other forms of…

Reviews contemporary court cases to show that free exercise claims are religious and therefore unenforceable under the Establishment Clause's "Lemon" test prohibiting religious activities in public schools. Discuses inadequacies in judicial perception involving compelling interest, a pattern of anti-theistic decisions, and lesser…

Discusses concerns regarding the Internet and its relationship to law and ethics. Answers questions about use of Internet sites, copyright issues, graphics, and other features in stories. (PA)

Supreme Court has delineated three-step test to First Amendment cases brought by public employees, including tenured and nontenured teachers' academic freedom cases. Is teacher's conduct "protected expression" that concerns public issue without unduly rocking boat? If so, is protected expression the motivation behind district's adverse…

Presents activities for teaching high school students about the freedom of religion. Includes student handouts that explain basic constitutional principles and summarize leading U.S. Supreme Court cases concerning religious liberty. Encourages teachers to invite students to speculate on the future relationship of religion and public education. (SG)

Teaching ethical values is often challenged as an infringement on students' religious rights. This article addresses key questions concerning schools' legal responsibilities, courts' treatment of curriculum-related challenges based on alleged First Amendment violations, and courts' handling of teacher proselytizing or "opting out" cases.…

Provides an overview of the First Amendment status of college print media, and then discusses the degree to which student-controlled electronic media outlets warrant comparable expressive rights. (SR)

Examines the legal issues surrounding Internet filtering in public libraries. Discusses First Amendment rights and responsibilities; recent court cases; legal problems with limiting Internet access; librarian intervention; less restrictive means to protect minors from harmful materials; and possible liability issues. (LRW)