Fox News Forgets Fact in Christian Graduation Speech Story

[AAsch at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/6/2006 9:48:12 AM Pacific Daylight Time,  
stcynic at crystalauto.com writes:

I would  argue that if the graduation speaker is chosen according to some 
objective  criteria, as when the valedictorian automatically is invited to speak, 
then  the school should not exercise any control over the content of their 
speech at  all. Then the speech is purely their own, there is no message of 
endorsement,  and the student can say whatever they want. Free speech preserved,  
establishment clause problem eliminated, everyone hapy.

Ed  Brayton



I agree that kids should be allowed to say whatever they want in graduation  
speeches and argued as much in _my video_ 
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zafkek_--ug)  and the _Gazette  online forum_ 
(http://forums.gazette.com/gazette/viewtopic.php?t=345&start=30) . Having unfortunately already spent some time in 
meetings with  my daughter's kindergarten principal, however, I can report 
that not all school  officials are as libertarian as you or I am. Given that 
school officials are  going to try to exert control (and the vice principal 
quoted in _my video_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zafkek_--ug)  says they  are 
fashioning a policy for next yearat Erica Corder's school), I wonder how  they 
do it without being arbitrary or discriminatory. I can't think of anything  
right away beyond the "disruptive" standard of Tinker.
 
And, more specifically on the religion law topic, can the school preapprove  
the message without endorsing it? It's something of a contradiction.
 
Allen
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