General Info about Abbot High School
In what city and state is Abbot High School located?
City: Reynolds
State: Grant
What election was happening?
State senate
What were the reactions of other students in Ms. Teagues' class upon seeing Ava's TikTok?
They no longer wanted to complete and present the assignment because they did not feel safe.
Who brought the case to court?
Ava and her parents
Exhibit VI: What did Ava's poster say?
Back to the Basics
Vote Hollis Doyle
What subject does Ms. Teagues teach?
Bonus (50 points): What grade?
Civics
Bonus: Tenth
Who are the candidates?
Francisco Vargas and Hollis Doyle
Who informed Ms. Teagues of the unrest Ava’s TikTok caused across the student body?
Mr. Eddie, an eleventh-grade math teacher.
What right is at issue?
First Amendment, Freedom of Speech
Exhibit 2:What hashtags did Ava use in her TikTok?
#AbbotHigh, #VargasAnarchy
What is Abbott High School known for?
Fostering critical thinking and civil discourse among its student body.
What is the topic of Ava Colman's project?
The political consequences of elections.
What did Principle Johnson conclude after reviewing Ava's TikTok?
The statements disrupted the school environment by causing controversy and distraction among students and parents.
What did the district court (trial court) hold?
Principal Johnson and Abbott High School did not violate Ava’s First Amendment Rights.
Exhibit 1: When do topics need to be approved by the the teacher?
Two weeks before the presentation.
What was the goal of Ms. Teagues' annual civics research project?
Encourage students to research and analyze various perspectives on contemporary issues while fostering healthy debates in the classroom.
When did Ava create the TikTok?
A week before her presentation.
How was Ava disciplined?
Ava was not able to present her project.
Ava was suspended for three days.
What did the appellate court hold?
Reversed the District Court decision.
Held the School did violate Ava's First Amendment Right.
Exhibit 4: What are the reasons Principle Johnson gives for suspending Ava?
The TikTok caused repeated and significant interference with Ms. Teagues' ability to conduct student presentations.
Many students complained that they felt unsafe to present their assignments.
Teachers in other classrooms have also notified administration of disruption in their classrooms.
What action did Abbott High School take in response to the disruption that occurred during a student presentation on the same civics assignment two years ago?
The school held an emergency, unplanned assembly about how to navigate civil discourse.
What was Ava Coleman advocating for in her TikTok?
Electing Francisco Vargas would escalate tensions and that young people need to rally behind Hollis Doyle.
Daily Double!!!
Who is the Petitioner? Who is the Respondent?
Petitioner: Abbot High School
Respondent: Ava Coleman
Exhibit 3: According to the school policy, what kind of speech can be limited?
materially and substantially disrupt or interrupt the regular and essential operation of the school, interfere with the rights of others, or destroy property,
engage in indecent, lewd, or vulgar speech,
engage in unauthorized speech that others may reasonably perceive as school-
sponsored,
Violate, or promote violation of, the law, campus rules, and district policy.