4.2.6 Practice Freedom of the Press in Context PDF

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4.2.6 Practice: Freedom of the Press in Context

U.S. Government and Politics (S4504825)

Points possible: 20

Practice Assignment

Erin Yamane

Date: ____________

For this assignment, you will study the Supreme Court's decision in Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier  and construct an argument evaluating the Court's decision. To do this, you will complete the following steps: 1. Reflect: Read the summary of the case and the excerpts from the Court's opinions to understand the justices' reasoning and arguments. Answer the questions, considering the arguments for and against limits on students' free speech. 2. Write: Write an essay that supports either the majority opinion or the dissenting opinion in the case. To get the best grade possible, follow the instructions in the assignment closely and answer all of the questions completely. This assignment is worth 20 points.

Read the summary of Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier . Then, read the excerpts from Justice White's majority opinion and Justice Brennan's dissenting opinion. When you are done, answer the following questions. This section is worth 5 points. 1. In the Tinker v. Des Moines  and Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier  cases, how did the students' form of expression differ? Which topics were their acts of expression related to in each case? (1 point)

In the Tinker v. Des Moines case, students were exercising free speech by expressing a political opinion which is different than Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier case where the students were publishing things for students in the school to read that the principal felt was inappropriate.

2. How were the results of the Tinker  and Hazelwood cases different? (1 point) The results of Tinker and Hazelwood were different because in Tinker, it was ruled in favor of the students because it was allowed unless it was disruptive but in the Hazelwood case, it ruled in favor of the school because the educators had the power to restrict what a student newspaper could publish.

 (1 point) 3. What were Justice White's main reasons for ruling in favor of the school district in Hazelwood ? Justice White’s main reasons were because if educators find it to be inappropriate and sensitive topics that are being publish in school newspapers then they have a right to limit what students can write in newspapers. 4. Identify two reasons Justice Brennan gave for dissenting in this decision. (1 point)

Justice Brennan felt that limitations because of potential topic sensitivity was too broad and shouldn’t have been limited. He also felt that it only makes sense to limit it when it’s clearly something that shouldn’t be published in any setting.

5. Why do you think Justice Brennan felt the Court's decision taught students the wrong lesson? (1 point)

Because they should be taught to respect other people’s values and opinions no matter how different and diverse they are.

You will now write an essay of at least three paragraphs that takes a position on an opinion in Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier . You may choose to support the majority opinion or Justice Brennan's dissenting opinion. You should support your argument with reasons provided in the opinions, although you may also give reasons of your own. Your essay should also describe the decision in the case. Use the writing rubric to determine how well you're meeting the criteria for the writing portion of this assignment. This section is worth 15 points.

In the Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier case, the school won because of how the Court believed that student speech should be judged by a different standard when it was part of a school-sponsored activity like a student newspaper. Also, they ruled that schools could limit student speech if there was a legitimate educational concern. I support the majority opinion because although it is important for students to learn to respect the diversity of ideas that is important and fundamental, at their age and level of maturity, some may be able to take it and understand it and respect while most of the students mpst likely wouldn’t agree or understand it at all and sometimes the super personal and sensitive topics can be different for everyone. Also, activities and publications that are school sponsored are closely tied with being a part of the school curriculum whether it is or isn’t in a classroom setting which is also true because it should be appropriate for the school to publish it and the educators have a right to decide whether or not it is appropriate....