Joe's Story

[RS Davis]

[glow=red,2,300]Joe Frederick Wrote:[/glow]The day of the running of the Olympic Torch, students were let out of class to go watch the running of the Torch. Some students stayed at school to watch while others left campus and went to McDonald’s and other places. My car was stuck in the snow that morning, so I arrived late and had not been on school property that morning. Across the street both students and non students stood waiting for the Olympic Torch to pass so that we could unfurl the banner reading “Bong Hits For Jesus” in front of the entire nation since it was being filmed by CNN. We did exactly as was planned. The banner was unfurled in front of CNN News with the passing of the Olympic Torch. The High School Principal, Ms. Deb Morse, came running across the street and all ran away with the exception of myself and my friend Ryan. Ms. Morse jerked the banner from my hand and I asked, “What about my First Amendment rights of free speech?” Ms. Morse replied, “High school students do not have free speech. You and Ryan come to my office.” Ryan and I complied and went to Ms. Morse’s office. At the Principal’s office, I inquired about our constitutional rights, and Ms. Morse stated, “High school students do not have constitutional rights, and you are under school authority from the time you walk out your door to go to school until you return home.” Ms. Morse then stated, “Joseph, Ryan, you are both suspended for five days.” I then spoke up and said, “Ms. Morse, Thomas Jefferson said, ‘speech limited is speech lost’ and Voltaire said, ‘you may not agree with the message but you should defend my right to think it, speak it , and write it.’” Ms. Morse spoke up and said, “Joseph, you just earned yourself an additional five days suspension.”

- Rick