When Free Speech Should Be Regulated.

This is an interesting Associated Press article about a school seizing an issue of newspapers. In Oak Ridge, Tennessee the school official acted responsibly in seizing an issue of a student run school newspaper. Their motive was to serve the parents by leaving sexual education in their hands. The government is notorious at being poor at teaching children family values, a lesson that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Palmdale, California school district should take to heart.

I understand the seizer in this case because the newspaper was pushing birth control as a good thing which by extension means that having sex is a good thing. This is legally considered to be contributing to the delinquency of a minor and is illegal in most if not all states.

Free speech is important but it does not give you the right to endanger yourself or others by what you say. In this case the seized issue endangered children by promoting promiscuous behavior in teens, whose judgment is developmentally impaired. The school has a responsibility to the children’s’ parents or guardians to prevent harm to the children under their jurisdiction.

I believe that the students need to learn how to use their free speech wisely. Debates on issues such as contraception need to be held between students. Research papers written on abortion. These lessons are necessary if children are to be taught to be a contributing part of our political system. On the other hand advertising contraceptives is not acceptable.