Ramsey school board approves policy limiting employee speech

A policy that would limit speech for school employees was adopted Tuesday night by the Ramsey Board of Education.

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The “Maintaining a Non-Disruptive Environment in a School Setting” policy prohibits “campaigning” while on school property during school hours or during officially sanctioned school activities. Campaigning also is prohibited “while in the presence of students or in locations where students are likely to hear such messages.”

The policy defines “campaigning” as engaging in speech, displaying signs, posters or buttons or wearing clothing with a political message. The policy also bars employees from assembling on school property in an “intimidating” manner and handing out leaflets or fliers.

School employees are allowed to campaign during their free time or break periods, even on school grounds, as long as students are not present and likely to hear their message.

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http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/052411_Ramsey_school_board_approves_policy_limiting_employee_speech.html

Don't expect help from the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court yesterday added its chilly voice to the mix: the First Amendment does not apply to speech for public employees when they speak as employees about job-related matters of public concern. In its defense, Justice Kennedy, writing for the majority, said, “Justice Souter suggests today’s decision may have important ramifications for academic freedom, at least as a constitutional value. There is some argument that expression related to academic scholarship or classroom instruction implicates additional constitutional interests that are not fully accounted for by this court’s customary employee-speech jurisprudence. We need not, and for that reason do not, decide whether the analysis we conduct today would apply in the same manner to a case involving speech related to scholarship or teaching.”

http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2006/05/supreme-court-narrows-free-speech-for.html

can stop employees from campaigning.

Not that I agree, but it seems that many people do not understand that the 1st Amendment means that the other guy also gets to have his say.

prayer in schools.

So again: Students are NOT prohibited from praying in school. Students can pray to whatever deity they choose - to themselves. The prohibition is against public school administrators, teachers, and coaches from leading public Prayer.