No Bong Hits 4 Jesus in 2007

In 2002, the Olympic torch passed through Juneau, Alaska and high school senior Joseph Frederick decided it would be cool to have a sideline banner make national television. Standing outside his school grounds early in the morning, he unfurled his banner "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" (a slogan from a snowboard sticker), whereupon the nation's latest case for student's freedom of speech was born. After the principal confiscated the sign and suspended Frederick, he initiated a freedom of speech lawsuit that was picked up pro bono by the ACLU. Freedom of speech is often an issue with students when the subject is introduced in the curriculum and students are challenged to contemplate what it means.

Now officially known as Morse v Frederick 06-278, the Supreme Court decided against Frederick in a split decision. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, "It was reasonable for (the principal) to conclude that the banner promoted illegal drug use-- and that failing to act would send a powerful message to the students in her charge." While the court's decision still holds that students maintain a freedom of speech, that speech may be curtailed when it is construed as inciting hate or promoting illegal activity. The ruling came in disfavor with the ACLU, "We are disappointed by the Supreme Court's ruling, which allows the censorship of student speech without any evidence that school activities were disrupted."

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