Electronic communication plays a significant role in most schools and in all of our personal lives as well. The legal question of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable electronic speech for students that is constructed and delivered totally off-campus on such platforms such as Snapchat, Tic Toc, Facebook or Meta, U-Tube, and regular email,…

As society becomes increasingly dependent on technology, school leaders must navigate the evolution of websites, resources, and platforms, including social media, as part of their responsibility to facilitate a safe and productive learning environment for students. This article reviews both constitutional and case law as a means of informing…

There has been a dramatic increase in use of remote communication via audio-visual technology since the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes use in complex legal hearings where decisions rely heavily on credibility assessments of an individual and their interview statement. This is particularly relevant in legal settings where negative assessments can…

This paper investigates the intersection of student First Amendment free speech rights and off-campus electronic speech that targets school employees. Specifically, this study researched case law involving students who were disciplined as a result of off-campus electronic speech that targeted a staff member at their school. Analysis of case law…

The internet plays an increasingly important role in the lives of contemporary college students. Use of social media and other forms of electronic communication have fundamentally changed the ways in which students interact with others. Often, students' online speech can lead to disciplinary action against them. This study considers the current…

While freedom of speech is a defining characteristic of the United States, the First Amendment right is often regulated within certain environments. For years, schools have attempted to monitor and regulate student communication both within the educational environment and in student use of social media and other online communication tools.…

This quantitative study uses a survey to determine how public school teachers perceive the efficacy of the intervention of the Dignity For All Student's Act on the climate of civility in the classroom at one specific public middle school located in Upstate New York. The intent is to explore the perceived efficacy of the intervention put into place…

This study examines student internet speech that originates off-campus but results in discipline from school. The history of the issue of student speech is explored to set the foundation for the current issue. In the absence of a Supreme Court ruling on student off-campus internet speech, cases reaching the Federal level are explored in search of…

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, speaking at the International Consumer Electronics Show in January, called for an open Internet which would make sure that ISPs had economic incentives to build better networks while still protecting consumers and innovators. His specific recommendations were shared with the other members of the FCC in February. One of…

This article describes Taiwan's recent progress against sexual violations in schools, using the author's personal experience with case investigation work to observe changes in the sexual violation prevention landscape. Fifteen years ago, schools in Taiwan were either at a loss about how to handle sexual violation cases, or they engaged in passive…

On the morning of December 16, 1965, in Des Moines, Iowa, a 13-year-old junior high school student named Beth Tinker got dressed and went to school. She wore a black armband to protest the war in Vietnam. The school promptly suspended her for wearing a symbol of political dissent. So began one of the nation's most celebrated cases involving…

When Jake Baker wrote a violent, sexually themed story about one of his classmates and emailed it to a friend, the case that ensued highlighted how new technologies have created fresh ways for students to harass, oppress, or be oppressed by others. This article examines concepts of violence and cultural imperialism oppression, primarily as defined…

This dissertation examines the demarcation line of school authority between off campus conduct and on campus discipline involving student cyber speech. A lack of clear direction from the Supreme court has left school administrators wading through a quagmire of advice and disparate lower court rulings regarding their authority to punish students…

The authors note that when it comes to balancing free speech and schools' responsibilities, the online world is largely uncharted waters. Questions remain about the rights of both students and teachers in the world of social media. Although the lower courts have ruled that students' freedom of speech rights offer them some protection for…

The use of social media continues to expand in prevalence and is a medium of communication for individuals of all ages. Schools are using social media to engage their stakeholders at increasing rates. Therefore, school counselors require the knowledge and appreciation of ethical and legal issues regarding the use of such technology. The purpose of…