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    Case A Decision Template

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    Zachary Stark
    The students at a middle school were preparing for their spring play but one week before the performance, a parent complained that the play was inappropriate. The school board agreed and canceled the play. The students believed this violated their freedom of expression but the school board argued it had the right to approve all school activities. The students appealed the case multiple times but the state supreme court ultimately ruled in favor of the school board. The students' parents are now appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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    Case A Decision Template

    Uploaded by

    Zachary Stark
    27 views2 pages
    The students at a middle school were preparing for their spring play but one week before the performance, a parent complained that the play was inappropriate. The school board agreed and canceled the play. The students believed this violated their freedom of expression but the school board argued it had the right to approve all school activities. The students appealed the case multiple times but the state supreme court ultimately ruled in favor of the school board. The students' parents are now appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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    case_a_decision_template

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    The students at a middle school were preparing for their spring play but one week before the performance, a parent complained that the play was inappropriate. The school board agreed and canceled the play. The students believed this violated their freedom of expression but the school board argued it had the right to approve all school activities. The students appealed the case multiple times but the state supreme court ultimately ruled in favor of the school board. The students' parents are now appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as rtf, pdf, or txt
    27 views2 pages

    Case A Decision Template

    Uploaded by

    Zachary Stark
    The students at a middle school were preparing for their spring play but one week before the performance, a parent complained that the play was inappropriate. The school board agreed and canceled the play. The students believed this violated their freedom of expression but the school board argued it had the right to approve all school activities. The students appealed the case multiple times but the state supreme court ultimately ruled in favor of the school board. The students' parents are now appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as rtf, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Case A Decision Template

    You have chosen to complete the Case A Decision Template. Note–You


    only have to complete and submit either Case A or Case B for grading. 
    Your Name: Zachary Stark
    Read the case below closely. As you read this case, imagine you are a
    Supreme Court justice analyzing the case.

    Case A
    The drama class at a middle school was preparing for their spring play in the
    school auditorium. One week before the performance, a parent complained to
    the school board that the play was inappropriate for middle school students.
    The school board agreed and contacted the principal, who then informed the
    classes that the show was canceled. Students were upset that their
    preparations were a waste. They believe they have the right to freedom of
    expression in performing the play. The school board said that students are
    minors and that it must approve decisions about what is presented in school
    by teachers or students. The students did not have time to plan a different
    show. A group of the students’ parents brought the case to court on their
    behalf, but they lost the case in state district court. The students’ parents
    appealed the district court’s decision to their state court of appeals. There the
    students and their parents won the case, but the school board appealed the
    decision to their state-level supreme court. The state supreme court ruled in
    favor of the school board. Unhappy with the state supreme court’s decision,
    the students’ parents are now appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.

    Step 1: Answer the following questions in complete


    sentences.
     What is this case about?

    Freedom of speech being ignored


     How is this case similar to the Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier case?

     Which type of expression listed in the First Amendment relates to this


    case?
    Freedom of expression
    Step 2: Make your Decision
    Now it’s time to pretend you are a judge!  Explain, like a judge, your thoughts
    on the case and why you feel this way. For each question you should explain
    your answer in at least two to three complete sentences.
    • Why did the school board believe they had the right to cancel the play?
     Because it was inappropriate
    • Why did the students believe they had the right to perform the play? 
     Because they had freedom of speech
    • Should the students be allowed to perform their school play? Why or why not?
    Give three reasons to support your decision. At least one of your
    reasons should be based on what you learned about the Hazelwood
    v. Kuhlmeier case. 
    no
    Reason #1: If the school says it is inappropriate, they should not do it.

    Reason #2: They are kids, and need to listen to their elders.
     
    Reason #3: If it is inappropriate, it could put them in harms way.

    • Do you think the school should be allowed to censor the material of a school
    play or school newspaper?  Why or why not?  Be sure to use what you
    know about the First Amendment to support your answer.
    Yes, because it is a safety problem and if safety is involved we need to be
    cautious.

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