School unlawfully censors student free speech.

[LionsDen]

Freedom of speech is a basic human right.

Liberal and secularist school officials have been unlawfully attempting to censor patriotic, conservative, and religious speech for years while allowing leftwing liberal speech.

Fortunately we in the United States enjoy a constitution with a free speech amendment.

If this school district does not comply with the constitution, it can be sure of paying harsh legal settlements.

June 7, 2006

Graduate's Diploma Held After She Speaks About Her Faith
by Wendy Cloyd, assistant editor


Legal experts say the action was a violation of her constitutional rights.

A top high school graduate in Colorado who shared her faith in her valedictory was escorted from the ceremony by school staff and told she couldn't take her diploma home until she explained her actions to the principal and the parents of other graduates.

Erica Corder was among 14 Colorado Springs students who addressed their graduating class last month. Rather than choose one or a few speakers, they decided to each share for 30 seconds.

Corder worked with her peers to write her segment, but did not include any reference to her faith in the draft she submitted to the principal — because she was unsure how it would be received.

"But I knew without a doubt that God was calling me to share my faith with those at graduation," she said. "I had been praying about it for months, and God prepared me. He gave me the strength, confidence and peace that I needed to stand up in front of thousands and share my beliefs."

Here is the entire speech that caused all the trouble:

"Throughout these lessons our teachers, parents, and let's not forget our peers have supported and encouraged us along the way. Thank you all for the past four amazing years. Because of your love and devotion to our success, we have all learned how to endure change and remain strong individuals. We are all capable of standing firm and expressing our own beliefs, which is why I need to tell you about someone who loves you more than you could ever imagine. He died for you on a cross over 2,000 years ago, yet was resurrected and is living today in Heaven. His name is Jesus Christ. If you don't already know Him personally, I encourage you to find out more about the sacrifice He made for you, so that you now have the opportunity to live in eternity with Him. And we also encourage you, now that we are all ready to encounter the biggest change in our lives thus far, the transition from childhood to adulthood, to leave (our school) with confidence and integrity. Congratulations class of 2006."

As caps flew and the graduates exited, a teacher next to Erica escorted her to the assistant principal.

"The assistant principal told me that I would not be given my diploma until I scheduled a meeting with the principal," Corder said, "who would then decide what to do about the situation."

Her father, Steve Corder, said he was pleased that his daughter's peers had chosen her to conclude the valedictory and was thrilled with her decision to share her faith.

"She had felt convicted from early in the school year that if she was named a valedictorian, God was asking her to say what she said," Corder said. "God had honored her in a number of ways this year and she simply wanted to redirect that honor to Him — for as John 12:26 says, 'If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor.' "

A few days later, Erica was asked by the principal to draft an e-mail to parents explaining that he had not approved or condoned her words. Her father said that wasn't all she was asked to write.

"He also asked her to include an apology for what she said," he said, "but she was not willing to do that, because this was something God had asked her to do."

She did draft a note that made it clear neither the principal nor the other valedictorians knew what she intended to say.

But the principal also asked Erica to add one more sentence: "I realize that, had I asked ahead of time, I would not have been allowed to say what I did."

Mat Staver, president and general counsel of Liberty Counsel, called such a requirement "outrageous."

"It's probably one of the most egregious things I've heard in terms of a graduation situation," he said. "I think it sends a horrible message not only to her, but also the other students, that what she did is illegal and shameful."

In fact, he said, she was completely within her constitutional rights to say whatever she wanted.

"She has a greater right to be able to speak because she's a valedictorian than even being elected by fellow students," he said. "Because she's there by virtue of her academic standing."

Steve Corder said he has spoken to the school-board president, who said she was open to hearing more about what students can legally share in a graduation ceremony.

Staver said the school had no authority to withhold Corder's diploma if she had successfully concluded her coursework and should not have asked her to write the e-mail to parents.

"I would say to her and her family that I apologize to her for her having experienced that kind of unconstitutional behavior from public school officials who are tasked with upholding the Constitution," he said. "What she did was absolutely protected by the Constitution."

http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0040791.cfm

Perhaps this is not controversial enough to generate much debate on this forum. After all, we all know the relevant case law and current state of constitutional law, don't we?