This second symposium will feature an exploration of Hazelwood School District et al. v. Kuhlmeier et al., decided in 1988 concerning events that took place in St. Louis, Missouri in 1985.

Background: Students in the Journalism II class at Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, Missouri, wrote stories about their peers’ experiences with teen pregnancy and the impact of divorce. When they included the articles in the school-sponsored and funded newspaper, The Spectrum, the principal deleted the pages that contained the stories prior to publication without telling the students. Claiming that the school violated their First Amendment rights, the students took their case to court.

U.S. Supreme Court Decision: In a 5-3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the principal's actions did not violate the students' free speech rights. The Court noted that the paper was sponsored by the school and, as such, the school had a legitimate interest in preventing the publication of articles that it deemed inappropriate and that might appear to have the imprimatur of the school.

This Zoom-Cast will feature back story discussions as well as in-depth conversation of jurisprudential analysis by leading scholars. The sessions will qualify for continuing legal educational and other continuing education units.

This event will take place December 8, 2021, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. CST.

Pre-registration is required. For those seeking professional credits, the registration price is $100 for lawyers and $40 for educators. Other audience members who are not seeking professional credit, the event is free of charge.  For more information and to register, please go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/student-free-speech-rights-the-Hazelwood-decision-tickets-209966343987

Presenters for this second Zoom-Cast are

  • Cathy Kuhlmeier, Defendant in Hazelwood School District et al v. Kuhlmeier et a
  • Robert Stergos. Former English and Journalism teacher at Hazelwood East High School
  • Professor Catherine J. Ross, George Washington University Law School and author of Lessons in Censorship: How Schools and Courts Subvert Students’ First Amendment Rights
  • Arthur “Gus” Jacobs, UMKC School of Education
  • Professor Daniel Weddle, UMKC School of Law

This event will be co-moderated by Professor Daniel Weddle (UMKC) and Steven Brown, Ph.D., Executive Director for the John F. Tinker Foundation.

Questions? Contact Dr. Steve Brown at (262) 813-0144 or drstevenmbrown@gmail.com