Welcome Wescott Junior High School Staff, Students, Parents and Administration

Didn't think I'd be back did you?

Neither did I after being accused of a crime by the principal last year. I was also locked in the bathroom by fellow teachers, grilled by the school attorney and assistant superintendent for three hours and disregarded by administrators after requesting an investigation into illegal activities here at Wescott.

All in a year's work for an education revolutionary.

And just in case you've forgotten my point here it is again...

TINKER V. DES MOINES SCHOOL DIST., 393 U.S. 503 ARGUED NOVEMBER 12, 1968.-- DECIDED FEBRUARY 24,1969 MR. JUSTICE FORTAS DELIVERED THE OPINION OF THE COURT...

"IN OUR SYSTEM, STATE-OPERATED SCHOOLS MAY NOT BE ENCLAVES OF TOTALITARIANISM. SCHOOL OFFICIALS DO NOT POSSESS ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY OVER THEIR STUDENTS. STUDENTS IN SCHOOL AS WELL AS OUT OF SCHOOL ARE "PERSONS" UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION. THEY ARE POSSESSED OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS WHICH THE STATE MUST RESPECT, JUST AS THEY THEMSELVES MUST RESPECT THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO THE STATE. IN OUR SYSTEM, STUDENTS MAY NOT BE REGARDED AS CLOSED-CIRCUIT RECIPIENTS OF ONLY THAT WHICH THE STATE CHOOSES TO COMMUNICATE. THEY MAY NOT BE CONFINED TO THE EXPRESSION OF THOSE SENTIMENTS THAT ARE OFFICIALLY APPROVED. IN THE ABSENCE OF A SPECIFIC SHOWING OF CONSTITUTIONALLY VALID REASONS TO REGULATE THEIR SPEECH, STUDENTS ARE ENTITLED TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OF THEIR VIEWS. AS JUDGE GEWIN, SPEAKING FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT, SAID, SCHOOL OFFICIALS CANNOT SUPPRESS "EXPRESSIONS OF FEELINGS WITH WHICH THEY DO NOT WISH TO CONTEND." BURNSIDE V. BYARS, SUPRA, AT 749.