The Supreme Court has ruled against Joseph Frederick and his "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner today, apparently signaling its intent to legitimize only that speech which adheres to the court's preordained sense of morality.
Schools may prohibit student expression that can be interpreted as advocating drug use, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court in a 5-4 ruling.
Joseph Frederick unfurled his homemade sign on a winter morning in as the Olympic torch made its way through Juneau, Alaska, en route to the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Chew on that for a minute, especially you conservatives who were convinced that John Roberts was going to be the savior of the Supreme Court (I much preferred Janice Rogers Brown or someone of her ilk).
Judging by our public schools' sterling track record of educating America's youth, you'd think they were only allowed to prohibit students from advocating studying. Who knew?
UPDATE (6/26): Radley Balko examines this ruling much more thoroughly and concludes that it may have actually been a victory for drug reform activists.
For the record, if the school's primary contention was that it should merely have the right to regulate activity it deems disruptive -- i.e., that it isn't seeking to regulate the specific content of allegedly disruptive material -- then I can't argue too much with that stance, inasmuch as any school has the right to implement discipline policies. However, I think you have to be high as a kite not to believe the perceived advocacy of drug use was the principal's primary concern here.
Related:
What Would Jesus Do?
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