Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

Bethel School District #45 V. Fraser

Year: 1987

Amendments

The First Amendment

Amendments

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Who?

Who?

Matthew N. Fraser

Matthew N. Fraser

Bethel School District

Bethel School District

What Happened?

What Happened?

Matthew N. Fraser made a speech to get his friend elected for office in student government.

The speech was full of elaborate, graphic, and explicit sexual metaphors and innuendos.

The Speech

"I know a man who is firm; he's firm in his pants, he's firm in his shirt, his character is firm, but most of all, his belief in you, the students of Bethel, is firm.

Jeff Kuhlman is a man who takes his point and pounds it in. If necessary, he'll take an issue and nail it to the wall.

He doesn't attack things in spurts; he drives hard, pushing and pushing until finally, he succeeds.

Jeff is a man who will go to the very end, even the climax, for each and every one of you.

So vote for Jeff for A. S. B. vice-president. He'll never come between you and the best our high school can be."

- Matthew N. Fraser

Punishment

Matthew N. Fraser was given a three-day suspension, but allowed to come back after just two days.

He was also removed from the list of students eligible to speak at his high school graduation, even though he was 2nd in his class at the time.

Results

  • Disagreeing with the school, Matthew's parents appealed the school's disciplinary action.

  • The Washington Supreme Court agreed that the school violated Matthew's free speech rights.

  • The school board however did not agree and appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Result

REVIEW OF PAST EVENTS

REVIEW OF PAST EVENTS

Earlier, The Court ruled that students do not shed their constitutional rights at the school gate.

This was do to the case, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School Board, that gave students the right to wear black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War.

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court

The final decision ruled in the school's favor.

Chief Justice Burger wrote "The purpose of public education in America is to teach fundamental values. These fundamental values must include consideration of the political sensibilities of other students."

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi