more slippery slope freedom of speech issues. has anyone seen the site “the dirty”… teens and anyone really can put pictures and say the most derogatory things about anyone they want for the world to see. Are school administrators going to police the entire internet for “bad things” about their current students by current students? This is no different really from writing mean things on the bathroom wall….just more digital. Once again, trying to rely on the legal system to dictate immoral, but not illegal behavior.

To those who believe Freedom of Speech means you can say whatever you want: Libel is not protected speech under the constitution. That concludes today’s Government lesson. Class dismissed…

Bard-
apparently you were never bullied in school. Bullies such as this girl do not go to the trouble of creating a website in order to express her free speech. She has done this (with the support of others, I’m sure) to make this girl’s life a living hell. NO ONE has the right to do that. Period.

I disagree with the thought that this is in the same vein as writing on the bathroom walls. The internet allows derogatory comments, etc to see by a FAR larger group & seems to create many more issues than simply writing something on a stall wall, like when I was in school. (though, I’m sure in many cases, it is JUST a difficult to find the origin of the poster.) Bullying is bullying. When did it become “freedom of speech” to harrass, belittle or verbally “abuse” (whether through written word or spoken) another human being? This is not ok. Kids are much more saavy than many of us were when we were in school, I’m sure, and they seem to be MEANER & more vindictive about their ways of retaliation.
While it is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to thoroughly “police” the vast internet for any “nasty” thing written or posted about another student, that doesn’t mean that when it IS found, and or reported that it should be made any LESS a “situation.” BULLYING CANNOT BE “TOLERATED”, or simply written off anymore. It getting out of hand….you have kids beating up on other kids on buses because they FEEL like it, you have PARENTS some how CONVINCING themselves it is ok to involve themselves in their kids’ lives so much that posting horrible things about other kids is “ok” & “acceptable” to them…where do you draw the line? How can we expect to raise children with values & integrity when we don’t SHOW them what is expected? Read the papers, watch the news..”children” are killng themselves, they are harming OTHERS, etc over these sorts of things happening over time & being “glossed over” as “no big deal- kids being kids” Remember “those who do not remember the past are DOOMED to repeat it..” (ie. Columbine, Virginia Tech…while there were probably OTHER “issues” going on there, both tragedys included people who beileved they were “slighted” by society)
Sticks & stones DO break bones, (but THOSE will heal) WORDS CAN HURT YOU…….
Take a stand now & let kids (and adults!!) know this is NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR & IT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

“…To those who believe Freedom of Speech means you can say whatever you want: Libel is not protected speech under the constitution. That concludes today’s Government lesson. Class dismissed……”

She wasn’t charged with libel. She was charged with being mean to someone.

I was bullied, like everyone else…difference is, I don’t want to destroy individual freedom in order to stop a few behaviors I don’t like. There are various legal definitions of Libel and various defenses of it: .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defamation... .. If a reasonable person. If you could charge every poster on here with libel every time they called you a moron, then that would really have an effect on “free speech” wouldn’t you think?
Freedom of speech covers more than you think it should.

Ok. I believe in freedom of speech but that goes waaay beyond freedom of speech. Did you see the website? I doubt it. I personally am a student at this school and I saw the website Rachel made about Kenzie. She wasn’t just posting ignorant/rude polls and derogatory statements about her, she had death threats and said she hopes/wishes she dies. I understand she might not like her but just because Kenzie upset her once doesn’t mean she should make a huge ordeal about this and as you would say, “comtemplate murder”. It is completely unexceptable and it’s a disgrace to the school. I personally as a student can tell you that this is not a bad school and faculty/staff try to do whatever they can to prevent bullying. but they couldn’t stop this, it’s not the schools fault, this isn’t a bad school. I’d have to say that all of these people are pretty much “grade A” and some of the best. I have nothing else to say and I’m done with the details, yes I know more but no I’m not telling. They don’t want student body on TV or giving out details and I’m going to respect their request.

The has nothing to do with Freedom of Speech, we live in a time where civility has gone out the window along with political correctness. Since it doesn’t seem people are not being taught to respect the rights of others in the home it is incumbent upon someone to at least try to monitor the situation. Young people today are extremely mean spirited.

*contemplate. Sorry.

Why is she being disciplined at school? How is the school involved?

If this is a civil or criminal matter - the school shouldn’t even be involved at all.

If my kids get into a fight with the neighbor kids - they shouldn’t be suspended from school.

The idiotic knee-jerking has begun.