# You Be The Judge: Should Schools Forbid Valedictory Speeches Based on Content? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 8, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329 "2003-09-08T16:32:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329/21 "2003-09-08T22:37:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Mace \* > **Since we’re talking about adolescents, I don’t think the whole “free speech” issue applies** These are graduating high school seniors. Most of them are going to be at least 18 years old. That being said… either put up with any speech you get that’s not obscene or advocating illegal action or drop the pretense that you want to hear what the valedictorian says and get someone safe to make your “Children, children, future, future” speech. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329/22 "2003-09-09T03:12:50Z")
A valedictorian speech should express whatever the student who gives it deems important with these qualifications- it should show respect to those who differ, it shouldn’t use vulgar or explicit language. About three years ago, the two high schools in my area broadcast their graduation ceremonies- a girl gave a good positive speech about applying oneself to succeed, with a recommendation about following Jesus which did not condemn any who didn’t; a guy gave a speech about standing up for your beliefs, his including opposing the murder of animals by hunters & the NRA “raping the Constitution”. I’m glad both had the right to express their beliefs (tho I agreed with the girl’s more- of course, it also helps that she’s a member of my church & would actually engage me in intellectual debate.) ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329/23 "2003-09-09T04:11:12Z")
The federal courts seem to be all over the board on what sounds like a simple matter of freedom of speech. Here is a link to brief summaries of just some of the court decisions: [http://www.asbj.com/199903/0399schoollaw.html](http://www.asbj.com/199903/0399schoollaw.html) > [@](#): > > **erislover** : I would be creative and have the school kids vote on whether political views should be expressed during the speech. From the above link comes this information: “A federal district court in Eastern Virginia agreed in Gearon v. Loudoun County School Board, observing that the constitutional rights of dissenting students cannot be vetoed by a majority vote.” Still, other court decisions seem to cut “majorities” of students more slack. Specific claims about teachers and principals could be cause for libel suits so I would tread carefully there. I wouldn’t hesitate to make general criticisms of the school though. But…if students really insist on revenge against their jailers, then the teachers should get a little time for retaliation too, don’t you think? :dubious: At least the speeches wouldn’t be so boring! [hijack]Bricker, when were you a state champ? I was a judge at the Nationals.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329/24 "2003-09-09T09:55:16Z")
Btw, scenarios 1 & 2- I’d tell the students they can express opposition to Bush & the Iraq war or Jesus & religion, but they need to show greater respect to those in the audience who would disagree. go back & rewrite. I’d say the same to a Wanna-Be Ann Coulter or Jerry Falwell who give strident pro-Bush or pro-Jesus speeches. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329/25 "2003-09-09T11:31:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > **Specific claims about teachers and principals could be cause for libel suits so I would tread carefully there. I wouldn’t hesitate to make general criticisms of the school though. But…if students really insist on revenge against their jailers, then the teachers should get a little time for retaliation too, don’t you think? :dubious:** What, four years of preemptive retaliation isn’t enough? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329/26 "2003-09-09T12:54:08Z")
I think the student is free to make a speech with any point of view he or she wants. However, I don’t think that there is a right to force an organization to give you a forum. Hustle up your own forum if you feel so strongly. I think that if the school board invited an outside speaker and objected to his or her advance draft they should be able to withdraw the invitation. I see no reason why a student’s speech is different. ---
**Author:** ![Jonmarzie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jonmarzie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonmarzie)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329/27 "2003-09-09T13:37:20Z")
Honestly, if a student wants to rail against politics/religion/tofu, that’s their business. However, one of the first rules of speech-writing is to know your audience. These folks didn’t come to this graduation ceremony to listen to a diatribe against The Man[sup]TM[/sup]. They came to listen to an insightful and inspiring speech to wrap up high school. Or, they came because they had to. The speech writers should remember that there is a time and a place for all that kind of stuff, and it is pointless to have it in a graduation speech. If the valedictorian has to plug inflammitory statements into the graduation speech so be different or memorable, they are a bad speech writer. Speeches can be quite createive without saying something out of the blue. That being said, my high school’s graduation speech was rather dull. No, I didn’t give it. If I did, it wouldn’t have been dull. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329/28 "2003-09-09T14:22:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > > [hijack]Bricker, when were you a state champ? I was a judge at the Nationals.[/hijack] 1980, 1981, and 1982, in Virginia. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329/29 "2003-09-09T14:45:58Z")
> [@](#): > > _Bricker_ > 1980, 1981, and 1982, in Virginia. …and then I was born. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329/30 "2003-09-09T19:46:22Z")
If this is, or was, a real case you’re going to post what the real judge decided, aren’t you? If it’s hypothetical or a question on a law exam from the past, we’ll still get feedback, won’t we? I’m not sleeping well. ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329/31 "2003-09-11T18:31:05Z")
hmmmm. This did force me to think Not being a Constitution scholar, I fear I must recuse myself from this case. (Said the cowardly lion!) Truly, I am not sure. Even though I would probably share this student’s views, I am an adult and am able to form my own opinions, but whether it is appropriate content for a speech to students is not clear. Would a speech advocating racism be acceptable? A speech praising Hitler’s actions? A speech declaring there is but one form of worship, one acceptable skin color, one political party? Etc. Tough call. I do not envy any judge who gets this case. But would love to hear both sides argue it [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-be-the-judge-should-schools-forbid-valedictory-speeches-based-on-content/200329.md?page=1)