Home » Take Action » Become a Student Activist » Case of the Month Archives » September 1999
Lesson Plan
"Free Speech at School: If it is Offensive is it a Danger and a Threat?"
Purpose
The purpose of this lesson plan is to provide students with an understanding of First Amendment principles, including the distinction between the advocacy of unpopular or offensive ideas, which is constitutionally protected, and actions that are likely to have imminent illegal consequences, which are prohibited by law.
Grade
9-12
Objectives
Students should be able to:
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Understand the history of the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech
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Understand current controversies that define the meaning and limits of free speech in the context of the public schools as well as elsewhere (e.g. protest activity that involves burning the American flag)
- Describe the constitutional and policy arguments about freedom of speech and school safety
Materials
- Complaint in Cuesta v. School Board of Miami-Dade County
- U.S. Supreme Court opinions on student free speech and general free speech (i.e. Tinker v. Des Moines, Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, Texas v. Johnson)
- Handouts on Freedom of Expression and Students' Right to Freedom of Expression
Activities
- Teacher will give an extensive lecture on free speech and the Cuesta case based on Case of the Month contents and the freedom of expression handouts.
- Class will discuss recent acts of school violence across the country (e.g. Paducah, Columbine, etc.) and measures that can be taken to prevent school violence.
- As homework, students will pretend that they are one of the Killian Nine students who must defend themselves to a news reporter who thinks they are a threat to school safety and should be jailed.
- Teacher will designate ten members of the class to serve as the school board; other students will be school security officers, police officers, parents and students. The class will have a mock school board debate about various school safety measures.
- Teacher will designate students as the Killian Nine, the school board and attorneys. The class will hold a mock school board hearing on whether to expel the students for producing and distributing their pamphlet.
