CASE STUDY: A STUDENT'S FREE SPEECH

To the Editor:

I am still puzzling over how "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" might qualify as
speech endorsing the overthrow of school policy regarding illegal drugs.

If, despite its idiocy and incoherence, it does qualify as speech
aimed at skewering school policy, then I figure the school has the
right to be embarrassed by the parading of a banner with this message
before runners with the Olympic torch. And I think that's what happened.

The school was embarrassed, and reacted by removing the offensive
banner and suspending the student.

"Bong Hits 4 Jesus" is just not right up there with shouting "fire!"
in a crowded theater or other forms of unpermitted speech. The school
in this case should acknowledge that it has made as big a fool of
itself as the student has.

Joyce Adams

Portland, Ore.