Module B
Expression in public school
Tinker and the other U.S. tests, plus check home law.
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) said students do not shed speech rights at the schoolhouse gate. A public school needs a reasonable forecast of substantial disruption or invasion of others’ rights to punish that kind of political expression.
Fraser, Hazelwood, Morse, and Mahanoy add later tests for lewd assembly speech, school-sponsored papers, drug-promotion banners, and some off-campus posts.
Private schools and private platforms are usually not the government. Do not assume Tinker is local law outside the United States.
Related: open the rights page
Check questions
1. What did Tinker start with?
2. What may a public school show before punishing political expression under Tinker?
3. Does Hazelwood cover every student notebook?
4. Does Tinker automatically control a school in another country?
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