DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

 

                                                 Introduction

The purpose of this study is to understand how the growing digital age has impacted student’s First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Although we are all well aware that certain behaviors are not deemed appropriate for the school environment and that students can be punished for First Amendment rights that violate the school’s policy, some schools have even taken into account off-school speech. In a trend of recent Supreme Court cases, school officials have even punished students for certain off-campus speech.   Due to the growing expansion of the digital age, it is safe to say that nothing online is private. Many school officials feel as though once a student's off-campus speech affects the school environment, school officials do not have the right to punish that speech.  With the advancement of cellular devices, internet, Wi-Fi, computers, laptops, tablets, etc. off-campus speech has become easily accessible on school grounds.

 

                                                Research Question

How has the digital age limited students' off-campus speech on school grounds?

What steps should school officials take to regulate students' off-campus speech once it plays a part in the school environment?

 

 

                                                    Methodology

I will go about conducting my research proposal through a means of analyzing court cases. I will be looking through case briefs and cases that have come before any supreme or district court in the U.S. I will also watch and analyze any videos or media coverage that pertain to students' freedom of speech off-campus. I am interested in where the school intervened once the expressive conduct affected the school environment.

 

                                                 Researcher Stance

I am a student who has witnessed first-hand the effects of expressive conduct during this digital age and how it can greatly influence not only students, but the school environment as well. In today’s rapidly growing age, I have witnessed students being bullied through the internet and I have also seen how one person can upload something online and then every single student can either see or hear about it within the next 24 hours. Schools are one of the best ways to spread information like wildfire. Oftentimes, parents want school officials to intervene and punish accordingly, but students feel as though the administrators are limiting our First Amendment right to freedom of speech when they take action by punishing student's off-campus speech.

 

                                                     Conclusion

Hopefully, this study will help people be more cautious of what they post, tweet, hash-tag, reblog, etc. online. The digital age has become so revolutionized that it is not only a source of information and expression, but also a gateway for bullies.  I also hope that this research will help school officials when punishing students for particular expressive conduct and help them keep in mind that we do have the right to freedom of speech and as long as we do it appropriately. School administrators should not over-exercise their power.

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.