A Florida high school student who posted that her AP English teacher was, “the worst teacher I’ve ever met” and got suspended from school for three days has won a settlement paying her legal fees and getting the suspension wiped off her school record.
The court had agreed that this was protected First Amendment speech as it was, off-campus, causing no disruptions at school, wasn’t vulgar and not advocating violent or illegal behavior.
School districts across the country are struggling with developing social media policies that maintain order and a safe educational environment while at the same time guaranteeing students and staff their First Amendment rights. I wouldn’t be surprised if a first amendment case involving Facebook and a school district ends up as a landmark Supreme Court free speech precedent.
Tags: Facebook, First amendment, Linkedin, school districts
Reading Tea Leaves by Randy Wilson 
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