Freedom Of Speech In Schools

"We can be sure that a top priority of the Founding Fathers of America was protecting each citizen_Ñés freedom of speech. After all, the very first amendment made to the Constitution was designed specifically to protect this fundamental right. As President George Washington so wisely stated, _ÑÒIf the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter._Ñù It is clear that our nation_Ñés first president understood the importance of having the freedom of speech and its capacity to embolden and define the very character of a nation. I suspect that if President Washington lived today in this age of the internet and social media, he would agree that the importance of protecting this freedom is even

For example, a business hosting a website should not permit white supremacists to endorse racism while using their site. A school must not turn a blind eye to a student or teacher bullying others online. Do rules like these violate Freedom of Speech? I believe that, as long as the terms and conditions of the group/school/business have been firmly established and made known to its members/users, Freedom of Speech is not being infringed upon. By agreeing to the terms of use, members are agreeing to comply with the organization 's rules when utilizing its

We have been blessed with free speech, but having this freedom does not excuse us from being held accountable for the damage our words may cause. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, _ÑÒWith freedom comes responsibility._Ñù In this past year, Michelle Carter of Massachusetts was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for using her words via texting to persuade - and some say bully - her boyfriend to commit suicide. Did Ms. Carter have the _ÑÒright_Ñù to use her words in such an evil way? Yes, she did. However, she must answer for those words and the irreversible damage that they have caused. As the jury rightly determined in that case, Ms. Carter_Ñés words contributed to the untimely death of another human being - a man who loved her and respected what she had to say. Because of the part she played in her boyfriend_Ñés death, Ms. Carter was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Any use of words to inflict harm on another, whether online or otherwise, must be dealt with swiftly and severely. This same concept holds true for cases of cyberbullying. If someone is being harrassed online to the point that any reasonable person would experience severe negative mental, emotional, or physical effects, the bully must be held accountable in a court of law for the damage they have caused. Words matter. The message we need to send about Freedom of Speech is clear: You