The Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled against Avery Doninger, a student who blogged that administrators of her high school were “douchebags” because of their cancellation or forced rescheduling of Jamfest, a student-organized battle of the bands.
Doninger also sent out an e-mail which got the administration deluged with e-mails and phone calls of protest. In response, Lewis S. Mills High School of Burlington, Connecticut banned the Doninger, who was then junior class secretary, for running for senior-class secretary.
The Second Circuit panel ruled 3-0 against Doninger. Writing for the court, Judge Debra Ann Livingston wrote:
… Doninger’s discipline extended only to her role as a student government representative: she was not suspended from classes or punished in any other way. Given that Doninger, in serving in such a position, was to help maintain a “continuous communication channel from students to both faculty and administration,” it was not unreasonable for [Principal Karissa] Niehoff to conclude that Doninger, by posting an incendiary blog post in the midst of an ongoing school controversy, had demonstrated her unwillingness properly to carry out this role.
That’s silly. Let’s face it, student government is bascially useless. The only purpose it has is planning events and serving as a kind of practice democracy. What good is the First Amendment for students if it doesn’t protect you in the course of practice democracy?
Not to mention, the speech concerned a matter of planning an event! In my opinion, Doninger’s speech was at the very core of protected First Amendment student expression. I mean it was involving JAMFEST for crying out loud!!
You should read the facts in the decision. They’re super fun. It’s like a John-Hughes-type movie. I’m not making this up: There as a school assembly where students came in wearing t-shirts with “Team Avery” on the front and “Support LSM Freedom of Speech” on the back. And Principal Niehoff instructed them to remove their shirts! Can you believe it?
Count me as a member of Team Avery!
Tags: Avery Doninger, Connecticut, education, high school, New England, schools
