Back to School
It seems like summer just started, but it’s already time to pack up fresh supplies and head off to the first day of the school year. As students go to class, they may not realize how much their educational experience was shaped not in the offices of their teachers and principals, but in courtrooms and statehouses.
In 1969, the United States Supreme Court granted a victory for students’ free speech rights by siding with three Des Moines, Iowa students who were suspended for wearing black arm bands in protest of the Vietnam War. In Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (393 U.S. 503), the court opined that the students were causing discussion, not disruption. In 1986, this “disruption test” was used to rule against a Tacoma high school student who used offensive language in a school speech. SCOTUS has ruled on student privacy issues as well, such as a school’s right to search backpacks and drug testing for school sports.
For more examples of how the Supreme Court has ruled the schools, check out this article from the New York Times on ten cases “every teen should know.” Or stop by the law library to pick up a copy of our newly acquired title, The Schoolhouse Gate: Public Education, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for the American Mind (Pantheon Books, 2018, 564 p.).
If you are a parent or anyone driving kids to and from school, you may want review Washington traffic laws related to buses and school zones before you head out the door. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website includes a list of school safety and security laws and regulations and those mandating school curriculum. Additional school laws can be found in Title 28A of the Revised Code, including provisions for private and home school students.
The Washington State Supreme Court goes “back to school” this month, too. The first oral arguments of the fall court term will be heard on September 10th. You can find the full calendar, as well as options for viewing the proceedings, on the Washington Courts website. The site also has information about the Judges in the Classroom Program, including how to request a visit and a set of lesson plans and supporting materials. Have a great school year! (LE)
