I can not run into a crowded building and yell FIRE, and yet I am told that I have the right to freedom of speech. I also can not publicly slander someone, however once again I am told that I have the right to freedom of speech. After the incident in Columbine last year, our nation experienced an amazing increase in fear. Schools all across the country began to increase their security and parents began to fear sending their kids to school. Also as a result of this event, schools around the country received an increased amount of threats. One of these schools was mine.
It came to the attention of the student body that something was going on when very astute looking men in black suites arrived in ourmain hall?. It was about two months after the shootings in Columbine, and so no one made the connection until the rumors started to spread. People began gossiping about how they intended on being absent from school the day of June 8th. The obvious question in my mind waswhy?? and so I asked someone. I was told that a student found writings on a desk that indicated that my high school was going to be destroyed on June 8th. It was obvious to me and many others that this was probably some stupid prank, or just simply kid who got very bored in Soc. and decided to doodle. Either way being that it could possible have been a serious threat, the school made a big deal about it.
Eventually they found the student who did it, and he was obviously suspended and unable to attend the end of the year events. Personally I believe that the punishment given was too severe for something that was obviously a silly prank, but these things need to be made an example out of. However if this is not the appropriate way to deal with the issue of Freedom of Speech then what is?.
Well I suggest that people use their brains. Purely using common sense could have solved many situations just like the one that I encountered.