Millard students' free speech case (2008) going to trial (T-shirts honoring a slain friend)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Matt Wynn

A case accusing Millard Public Schools of violating the free-speech rights of three former students will go to trial, a judge has ruled.

The district had asked that the case be dismissed, but U.S. District Court Judge Laurie Smith-Camp ruled that the students — Dan, Cassie and Nick Kuhr — "had viable claims ... that prevent dismissal."

The case stems from the suspension of 26 students for wearing T-shirts honoring a slain friend.

Administrators at Millard South High School suspended the students in 2008 after they wore T-shirts bearing the phrase "Julius RIP."

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20111110/NEWS97/711109863#millard-students-free-speech-case-going-to-trial

[FailureToCommunicate]

1. "Students...(do not) shed their constitutional rights of freedom

of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." - Justice Abe Fortas

1969 Supreme Court decision:

Tinker v. Des Moines
Independent Community School District


http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/comm/free_speech/tinker.html

Good luck Millard Public Schools, you'll lose this one!

[baldguy]

2. "The administrators said the shirts violated the ... dress code because they could be disruptive."

Maybe such a school needs to be disrupted.