Previous Knowledge
True or False: Students lose their First Amendment protections when they arrive at school.
False! We learned in Tinker that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."
True or false: the basketball coach was verbally abusive and intimidating to his players
True!
Name at least 3 of the protections that the First Amendment promises
Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, religion, assembly
Why did the players create a petition asking their coach to resign?
He told them that if they wanted him to leave, he would. His treatment of his players was also very abusive.
Why wasn't Bethel's speech protected when he gave an inappropriate speech at school?
Because his speech was vulgar and inappropriate, and the school has a legitimate interest in preventing this type of behavior so that there are no disruptions to the learning process.
What were the two options presented to the athletes by the administration after they handed in their petition?
1. Mediation between the athletes and the coach and the players should participate in the game that night
2. Maintain their position of not playing for this coach and lose the privilege of playing in the game that night
Do students have all of the same First Amendment protections as adults?
No, there are some limitations.
What happened to the athletes who refused to board the bus for the game?
They were suspended from the team