Courtney Dickinson

Ed W Clark High School: TEACH Internship

March 11, 2017

Week Six Assignment

Bethel v Fraser

1. Facts of the Case

a. The players involved are Bethel School District, petitioner, and Matthew

N. Fraser, respondent.
b. At a school assembly, Matthew Fraser used graphic and profane language

to promote his friend to an elected office, and the school suspended him for two days

because the behavior was restricted by school rules. The case questions whether or not

this discipline violated his First Amendment right to free speech.

c. This case took place in 1986.
d. The case originated in Bethel School District in Bethel, Washington.
e. The case is relevant to public education in the U.S. today because it

discusses what schools are allowed to do in terms of disciplining speech, and helps to

outline a students limitations on free speech.

2. The final ruling was that the school was right in suspending Fraser, because the lewd

speech inconsistent with the "fundamental values of public school education." (Burger).
3. I do think that the intent of this case has become a reality for much of America today

because offensive speech is not covered by the first amendment, and it is important that students

learn this because much like how one cant say certain offensive things on TV or radio, they also

cannot say them at an assembly in front of ones entire school.

TLO v. New Jersey

1. The facts of the case

a. Respondent: Unnamed High School Freshman (TLO) Petitioner: New

Jersey
 b. TLO was a high school freshman, had her bag searched by school

officials when they believed she had cigarettes. During the search, they found cigarettes,

drugs, and a list of students who owed TLO money. TLO tried to claim that the items found

by school officials shouldnt matter because the school shouldnt have been able
c. 1984
d. The case originated in New Jersey.
e. This case is relevant to public education in the U.S. today because school

officials today still have to search students bags when there is a reasonable cause, and it

is important that schools are able to do this in order to protect students.

2. The final ruling was that the school did have a right to search her bag and did not break

any amendments, but schools have to have reasonable suspicion before searching.
3. I think the intent of this case has become a reality for much of America today because

drugs are still an issue for students, and with drugs and weapons being brought to school, it is

important that schools have a way to effectively combat that.