Big Mouth Strikes Again!

Once again, a student is in trouble for something they posted on Facebook (surprise, surprise). This time, the accused resides in Mississippi. However, we can see a familiar trend - criticizing a teacher. Much like the Florida case (circa 2010) featured earlier in this blog, this student was suspended for writing something negative about a teacher, but instead of a page, the student wrote a rap song called "PSK The Truth Need to be Told," about two coaches who acted inappropriately with female students.The student claimed that he created it off campus, without the use of school equipment, and he only made the video available to a few friends instead of the general public.In the video, the student alleges that the coach was flirting with female students and touching them inappropriately. When asked why he wrote the rap song, he said he did it because he was outraged because of the coaches' behavior.

The student was suspended from school for seven days and then sent to five weeks of alternative school.The student, Taylor Bell, has now sued for violation of his right to free speech and due process.

Unlike the previous case, this case just started in January and has yet to make it all the way through the court system. However, I do have a prediction as to how it will start. In the Florida case, Garber stated, "It was an opinion of a student about a teacher, that was published off-campus ... was not lewd, vulgar, threatening, or advocating illegal or dangerous behavior." The Mississippi case, as long as the allegations against the gym teacher are true, should fit into the same category. The rap song was written off campus and would not be threatening. However, if the rumors about the coaches' behavior are false, the student could be sued for libel.

You can read more about the case here: High School Student Challenges Suspension For Writing & Posting a Song on Facebook

Once again, this is a case of big mouth gone wrong. We do have a right to privacy and freedom of speech on the internet, including Facebook. Although I personally feel as if this student did nothing wrong, it would have been wise if he hadn't placed it on public forum, even if only a few people have access to viewing the video.