What are you allowed to do …?

Scenario 1:

You are outraged that the size of the cookies sold in the cafeteria has shrunk while the price has stayed the same, so you pass out fliers and a petition protesting the lack of value in school food. Does the First Amendment give you the right to do this?

a. Yes. Your free speech activities are protected as long as they do not cause a disturbance or disrupt the process of education.

b. No. You cannot criticize school policies in a highly public manner while on school campus.

c. It depends whether or not you do it during school hours.

Scenario 2:

You are selling drugs out of your locker, and another student finds out and tells the principal. The principal opens your locker with a master key, finds your stash, and calls the police. Has she violated your Fourth Amendment right to protection against unreasonable search and seizure?

a. Yes. Your locker is an enclosed space with a legitimate expectation of privacy.

b. No. This is a legal search because the locker is the school’s property. You do not have to be notified or given a chance to be present.

c. It depends on if she asked for your permission first.

Scenario 3:

You wear a micro-mini skirt and a strapless top to school even though this violates the dress code because you feel you have to dress that way in order to express yourself. Does the First Amendment give you the right to do this?

a. Yes. To prohibit you from expressing yourself through clothing would be violating your First Amendment rights. You are not harming anyone with your clothing.

b. No. The school can legally restrict your right to freedom of expression in this way because your outfit may cause significant distraction to other students.

c. It depends on the male to female ratio in your school.

Scenario 4:

You are running for ASB President and you put up campaign posters claiming that your opponent participates in dogfighting and other forms of animal cruelty. You know that this is not true, but it will discourage other people from voting for him. Does the First Amendment give you the right to do this?

a. Yes. It’s your freedom of speech. Tabloids do this all the time. As long as you’re not defaming a political figure, it’s okay.

b. No. Making a false statement about another person that could damage his or her reputation is illegal.

c. It depends if more than 100 people read the posters or not.

Answers: 1. a. 2. b. 3. b. 4. b.