Court Weighs Fight Over Student MySpace Posts

Students fight suspensions received for posting derisive posts of their principals

A U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia must decide if schools can discipline students for lewd, harassing or simply juvenile Internet speech posted off-campus.

Two students are fighting suspensions they received for posting derisive profiles of their principals on MySpace from home computers.

The American Civil Liberties Union says school districts cannot reach beyond school grounds in such cases to impose discipline. The two Pennsylvania school districts argue the postings could be disruptive at school, and say they have the right to maintain order.

In a rare move, all 14 eligible judges on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Thursday.

Legal experts hope the Supreme Court will soon clarify the limits of school discipline for online speech.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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