Case Study

Constitutional Law

As the editor of a school newspaper, Kevin is responsible for sending a reporter to cover the local anti-Muslim rally. The next day, there is a similar rally on school grounds. In response, a group of students hold a silent protest against the hateful speech at the anti-Muslim rally. In an effort to keep the situation from escalating, the principal calls a last minute assembly where a local religious leader leads the students in a prayer.

When the reporter returns with her story, Kevin discusses with his mother, the editor of the local newspaper, the fact that the constitutional right to free speech protects the speakers at the public rally, but that the school can properly limit the speech on its campus. Kevin’s mother expresses concern about a religious leader leading a prayer at a school-sponsored assembly.

Kevin is then faced with analyzing the implications of whether the school newspaper will print a story that would be protected by freedom of speech in a public newspaper, but may be limited by the school principal.