Question

5. After reading the event below, do one of the followings:

(1) form an argument in defense of the student Joseph Frederick;

(2) form an argument to defend the Principle Deborah Morse.

    Principal Deborah Morse was in charge of a school event celebrating the Olympic Torch Relay as it arrived in Alaska for the first time ever. The event occurred during school hours. The assembled student body (accompanied by teachers and administrators) lined both sides of the street in front of the school. Cheerleaders were in uniform. The pep band played. And four students acted as torchbearers. At the very moment that the torch arrived in front of the school, then-senior high school student Joseph Frederick unfurled his banner festooned with the slang marijuana reference, “BONG HiTS 4 JESUS.” Principle Morse determined on the spot that Frederick’s obtrusive sign violated school policy prohibiting

Answer 1

1 ) Joseph Frederick only used a peaceful method of demonstration utilising his constitutional right of speech. The phrase on the banner he was sued for could have also meant something else than what was interpreted.

2) Principle Deborah Morse is well justified in her actions as she followed the school's policy which was against the material that promotes the use of illegal Fredrick's message though "cryptic " was reasonably interpreted as promoting marijuana use.