CASE STUDY: A STUDENT'S FREE SPEECH

To the Editor:

Re "Court Hears Whether a Drug Statement Is Protected Free Speech for
Students" (news article, March 20):

As a student, I find the argument to limit the speech of students in
the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" Supreme Court case very troubling. The
comments by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. give the impression that
students are not at liberty to express their own political opinions in
the classroom concerning any topic, not only drugs.

(In the case, an Alaska high school student was suspended in 2002
after he displayed a banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" while the
Olympic torch passed by.)

You report that during the argument Chief Justice Roberts asked, "Why
is it that the classroom ought to be a forum for political debate
simply because the students want to put that on their agenda?"

But if this is true, schools should be shaping students to remain
silent on the many pressing, controversial topics today.

Shouldn't being able to argue, defend and understand one's own
opinions on important political issues be part of the school's
responsibility to produce conscientious, competent citizens?

Lydia M. Kisley

Springfield, Ohio