Freedom of Speech in Schools and on College Campuses

The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right of freedom of speech to all Americans, and the First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. The First Amendment plays the central role in affording the public access to discussion, debate, and the dissemination of information and ideas. The First Amendment extends to school libraries, and the selective removal of books from school libraries because someone considers the content offensive directly and sharply curtails students' free speech and thought as reported in chapter 1. Chapter 2 addresses the rights of teachers and students to engage in free speech and learning in the classroom through the dissemination of basic facts and historical truths that are deemed by some politically incorrect or just uncomfortable. Chapters 4 and 5 discuss the extent to which colleges and universities are regulating free expression on their campuses which has been an issue of legal debate in recent years, with some contending that a large percentage of colleges and universities continue to implement policies that unlawfully restrict protected expression. Chapter 6 addresses the potential tension between free speech and impermissible sexual harassment in higher education.