hello all (let me start by saying that this is just a long rant/blab, so sorry) well I have a friend who attends a different school than I (she goes to public and I go to private Christian school), who was recently telling me about how this one girl in her class wanted to do a presentation on LGBT rights for her current day cause thing project whatever it is. basically the teacher refused to allow her to do this, because she thought some students parents would disapprove, (and I quote): "didnt want their kids exposed/to be around those kinds of ideas". the girl had also done some research for the project prior to getting approval, on the school computers. it turns out that the LGBT sites were BLOCKED from the school's WiFi. I can understand kids in my type of school not being allowed to do that type of project (though in no way am I saying it's right), but aren't public schools required to allow students freedom in that way? please tell me that goes against some kind of policy... ugh its terrible. they are in stinking 9th grade! people are trying to censor these things from kids, which is making it even harder for the ones trying to come out (such as myself and others) because its something you're " not supposed to talk about" in schools, as if it doesn't exist. people are so ignorant blah sorry for the ranty thing, this just really upset me :bang:
There's some pretty solid legal case history in the US that allows schools to limit speech. The one I remember in particular was a Supreme Court case in which a school was allowed to stop a student from wearing a shirt expressing some sort of political opinion (while allowing shirts with other types of opinions.) At the time it created a lot of outrage, but as far as I know, nothing's happened to overturn that decision. Additionally, there's Bob Jones University, a legitimate school with solid academics that doesn't qualify for any sort of federal funding or financial aid, or even proper accreditation because... among other things... they don't allow people of different races to date each other, and you're not allowed to be gay if you go there. In fact, an alum of the school who later figured out he was gay went back for a visit... and was escorted off campus. This is an ultra-conservative, right-wing crazy school, but it has survived and thrived because there are enough whack jobs willing to support it. So I think, unfortunately, your friend's private school is probably well within its rights to be as bigoted, censoring, and ignorant as it wishes, as long as it gets on federal funds.
Unfortunate truth. I can see it for private schools, because parents can choose to remove their children if a school is unsuitable. But a public school should espouse public freedoms, most obviously those in the Bill of Rights. Of course an educational establishment is responsible for dispelling any professing of something false as something true (aka you couldn't let a student give a speech in favor of creationism as fact) but in the mere presentation of information in the case of the LGBT topic, the school should have no problem. *Some sites notwithstanding. I've been to schools which have blocked some sites like facebook for productivity reasons and porn for that and because minors are not legally allowed to view it. I'm making no big "freedom of speech" pitch for these and it's important we let them continue to be blocked. It's only material that has educational potential being blocked that I can't abide.
Wow. That's... All I have to say. But as a somewhat related side note. I tried to access this web site one day using McDonald's wi fi. It was blocked. Even McDonald's, for some reason, doesn't want people accessing LGBT web sites while they are there...
its just... I can understand those kinds of topics not being allowed in a private school like mine, which believes that all get people will burn in hell... (which is totally wrong and stinks that they're putting that into our minds, but anyway) in a PUBLIC establishment I think freedom of speech should still protect students, all she wanted to do was a presentation on LGBT rights and progress... not try and convince anyone of anything or force anyone to think a certain way. its really ridiculous. ---------- Post added 5th Dec 2014 at 10:36 PM ---------- also last year in my school we were REQUIRED to write an easy on Genesis and creationism... the whole time I'm like "wtf am I doing, I'm literally writing lies and opinions, as if they were fact" :tantrum:
To be fair, most of these restaurants are independent and their owners choose the WiFi. They often use out of the box web blocking software. Not that it legitimizes it though. I can possibly understand some arguments for censorship in K-12 schools. Schools should be a place for free thought, and expression though. You are there to learn, not be indoctrinated.
One of the PAYG dongles I use for at home internet access will off and on decide to block EC as it thinks it is an adult site. Might be to do with keywords referring to SEXuality, I'm not sure. A public library computer once blocked me from reading one of my own emails due to suspected adult content.
In private schools, all bets are off when it comes to restricting speech. They have some more liberties when it comes to those rules. It things like this that remind me of the famous quote from the Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines. "Students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate". Also, in the case of public schools, there has been at least one court order issued ordering the unblocking of LGBT sites. The issue with internet web filters is that they over block content and under lock content. In the case I linked above, Camdenton R-III school district was using a web filter that had pro-LGBT topics in the porn category and negative LGBT topics in the religion category. This only let students access sites that showed LGBT people in a negative light. So, overall, for everything really, the filters are an imperfect solution to the dangers that the internet can present to minors. I remember being in school and trying to do projects on school shootings, but everything was blocked. It was annoying. If anybody wants more info on public schools and the blocking of LGBT content, let me know. I did a bunch of research on if for my class in media law, so I can send that info in your direction
In my old school you got in a lot of trouble for saying the word gay. Even in context. Basically people were using the word as an insult so they banned it. I feel sorry for the people who were trying to come out.
