High School Bill of Rights

I. STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE ALL RIGHTS ENUMERATED IN THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND ALL OTHER AMENDMENTS AND THOSE ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

Freedom of Political Activity

II. STUDENTS HAVE THE FULL FREEDOM OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

1. Students may form political and social organizations in the school, including those which champion unpopular causes and regardless of the political and social views of the organization.

2. Students have the right to full use of school facilities—bulletin boards, auditoriums, public address systems, mimeo facilities—to advertise their ideas and activities that take place inside and outside the high schools.

3. Students have the right to plan and carry out forums, assemblies, seminars and other school programs in order to expand the educational process. These are to be carried out at a time chosen by the students. Speakers chosen by students may not be rejected by administrators and/or faculty.

4. Students have the right to distribute any leaflets, pamphlets and political material freely inside and outside the school and school grounds without authorization of the principal or any body of the school administration or the Board of Education.

5. Students have the right to wear any symbol of their political beliefs, such as buttons, armbands, and style of dress which expresses their opinions.

6. Students have the right to choose their own method of expressing their beliefs and to refrain from saluting the flag or from attending any assemblies which they so desire.

7. Students have the right to strike.

Freedom of Speech and Press

III. STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE PRESS.

1. Student publications must be controlled by the students and may in no way be censored by the administration or faculty. Editing will be done by the student editors. Any student organization has the right to have access to the school newspaper to advertise its ideas and activities.

2. Student publications (newspapers and magazines) which are not “official” school publications are to be treated with the same rights as (1) above with full use of school facilities to produce and distribute them.

Due Process

IV. STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS.

1. Students have the right to a fair hearing which includes representation by counsel, with the right to question witnesses prior to any disciplinary action.- The hearing shall conform to all present laws pertaining to court procedure.

2. Students may not in any way be penalized by administration or faculty for any political or moral beliefs which they have or upon which they act.

3. Students have the right to receive annually upon the opening of school a publication setting forth all the rules and regulations to which students are subject. This publication shall contain a statement of student rights.

4. Students and parents have the right to see their personal files at any time.

5. Students have the right to appeal any decision on a disciplinary action with a transcript of the trial provided by the school administration.

Free Elections

V. STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO FREE ELECTIONS IN THE SCHOOLS.

1. Students shall have the right to run in any school election for any office. There shall be an end to arbitrary administration requirements and screening of candidates.

2. All students in the school shall have the right to vote. Scheduling of balloting shall occur at a time when all students are present during regular school hours.

3. All candidates shall have the right to wage a real campaign with full use of school facilities to freely advertise their full election platform.

No War Machine

VI. STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO END HIGH SCHOOL COMPLICITY WITH THE WAR MACHINE.

1. The student body has the right to be free from the presence of any influence of federal agencies not directly involved in the educational process.

2. There shall be an end to all military programs like ROTC in the schools and to all military recruiting in the high schools.

3. There shall be an end to the use of police to settle disputes within the schools.

VII. STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO HELP DETERMINE THEIR CURRICULUM AND EVALUATE THEIR TEACHERS.