We’re all for freedom of speech, aren’t we? Well sure, as long as it reflects our values, is not vulgar, and certainly does not use “the ‘f’ word.”
There is a case before the U.S. Supreme Court where a high school cheerleader (on the weekend, not from school and on her own social media account) did just that to express her dissatisfaction with not being chosen for the varsity cheerleading squad. Before the posting was removed, it was seen by another student and reported to the school, which proceeded to punish the student.((More details about the case can be found here.))
How many times have we read that a college, as either employer or educator, reacts to a controversial (perhaps hateful, maybe just impolitic) statement by one of its teachers or students by saying that the statement “does not reflect our values” and promises an “investigation” (read “we’ll make it sufficiently unpleasant that the speaker will quit”)?
Yesterday NJ.com reported((N.J. town warns homeowner to remove F-bomb anti-Biden flags or she’ll face fines. She isn’t backing down. (This article is behind their paywall as a “subscriber exclusive”). )) that Roselle Park is threatening daily fines of up to $500 to force one homeowner “to remove profanity-laced anti-President Joe Biden flags from her property . . . .”
Regulating speech can be a slippery slope, and we never know when our own views, even expressed with an attempt at civility on a little- (or even un-) read blog may not reflect someone’s values and require an investigation.
Jay Bohn
June 3, 2021
Post script
Today the Supreme Court voted 8-1 to affirm the decisions of the lower courts that the school’s discipline of the student for her off-campus speech violated the First Amendment.
J.B.B.
June 23, 2021