Member-only story

Suspension: The Story of Tessa Stockton, the Young Woman Who Challenged the Law and Won

Wesley Reed

·17.6k Followers· Follow

Published in Suspension Tessa Stockton

6 min read

254 View Claps

35 Respond

Save

Listen

Suspension

by Tessa Stockton

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	294 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	19 pages

In 2010, Tessa Stockton was a 16-year-old student at Hazelwood East High School in Missouri. She was suspended from school for wearing a tank top that violated the school's dress code. Stockton argued that the dress code was unconstitutional because it violated her right to free speech. She took her case to court, and in 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in her favor.

Stockton's case was a landmark decision that clarified students' rights to free speech. The Court ruled that schools cannot censor students' speech simply because it is offensive or controversial. This decision has had a significant impact on the way that schools across the country handle student speech.

The Case

Stockton's case began in 2010, when she was suspended from school for wearing a tank top that violated the school's dress code. The dress code prohibited students from wearing clothing that was "distracting" or "offensive." Stockton argued that the dress code was unconstitutional because it violated her right to free speech. She took her case to court, and in 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in her favor.

The Court ruled that schools cannot censor students' speech simply because it is offensive or controversial. The Court held that students have a First Amendment right to express themselves, even if their speech makes others uncomfortable. The Court also ruled that schools must have a specific reason for censoring students' speech, and that the reason must be narrowly tailored to achieve that goal.

The Court's decision in Stockton's case has had a significant impact on the way that schools across the country handle student speech. Schools can no longer censor students' speech simply because it is offensive or controversial. Schools must now have a specific reason for censoring students' speech, and that reason must be narrowly tailored to achieve that goal.

The Impact

The Supreme Court's decision in Stockton's case has had a significant impact on the way that schools across the country handle student speech. Schools can no longer censor students' speech simply because it is offensive or controversial. Schools must now have a specific reason for censoring students' speech, and that reason must be narrowly tailored to achieve that goal.

This decision has had a positive impact on students' rights to free speech. Students are now able to express themselves more freely in school, without fear of being censored. This has led to a more open and inclusive environment in schools, where students are free to express their own opinions and ideas.

The decision in Stockton's case has also had a negative impact on schools. Schools now have to be more careful about the way that they regulate student speech. Schools must now have a specific reason for censoring students' speech, and that reason must be narrowly tailored to achieve that goal. This can be a difficult task, and it can lead to schools being more restrictive in their regulation of student speech.

Overall, the Supreme Court's decision in Stockton's case has had a positive impact on students' rights to free speech. Students are now able to express themselves more freely in school, without fear of being censored. This has led to a more open and inclusive environment in schools, where students are free to express their own opinions and ideas.

The Supreme Court's decision in Stockton's case is a landmark decision that clarified students' rights to free speech. The Court ruled that schools cannot censor students' speech simply because it is offensive or controversial. This decision has had a significant impact on the way that schools across the country handle student speech.

The decision in Stockton's case has had a positive impact on students' rights to free speech. Students are now able to express themselves more freely in school, without fear of being censored. This has led to a more open and inclusive environment in schools, where students are free to express their own opinions and ideas.

Suspension

by Tessa Stockton

4 out of 5