COURT GOT IT RIGHT

The two opinion pieces in the St. Petersburg Times that addressed the
Supreme Court's decision on freedom of speech in reference to the
"Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner compared apples to oranges.

It is one thing to wear black armbands as a symbol for showing you
are against the Vietnam War, and it is another thing to carry a
banner that reads "Assassinate the President" so that we can end the war.

Freedom of speech is our right as Americans, but is it right to
advocate illegal activities, especially at school or in the
workplace? We all have the right to express ourselves, as long as we
are conducting ourselves appropriately. Clearly, the conduct
portrayed in this case was not only inappropriate, it was also in
violation of established school policy.

As the executive director of Drug Free America Foundation, which was
a party to the amicus brief filed in support of the school principal,
I have extensive knowledge of the details surrounding this case.
Congress has declared that part of a school's job is educating
students about the dangers of drugs. Student speech celebrating and
promoting illegal drug use at school and in the presence of school
officials poses a particular challenge for those officials in working
to protect the children entrusted to their care. The "special
characteristics of the school environment" allow schools to restrict
student expression that promotes drugs.

The justices exercised good common sense in their ruling in
protecting the rights of the majority of our children and those
charged with their care.

Calvina L. Fay, executive director

Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., St. Petersburg