Pubdate: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2007 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n349/a05.html Author: Joyce Adams CASE STUDY: A STUDENT'S FREE SPEECH To the Editor: I am still puzzling over how "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" might qualify as speech endorsing the overthrow of school policy regarding illegal drugs. If, despite its idiocy and incoherence, it does qualify as speech aimed at skewering school policy, then I figure the school has the right to be embarrassed by the parading of a banner with this message before runners with the Olympic torch. And I think that's what happened. The school was embarrassed, and reacted by removing the offensive banner and suspending the student. "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" is just not right up there with shouting "fire!" in a crowded theater or other forms of unpermitted speech. The school in this case should acknowledge that it has made as big a fool of itself as the student has. Joyce Adams Portland, Ore. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake