Education

Did a New York School Unconstitutionally Censor One Of Its Own Students?

New York 5th Grader Kameron Slade had a conundrum – he was slated to give a speech to his whole school assembly, and didn’t have a topic. Evidently, he decided to go with a speech on a topic that was close to his heart – specifically, same sex marriage.

Wait, what?

Yes, apparently fifth graders in New York care about same sex marriage enough to give speeches about it. And no, this isn’t a political thing. Same sex marriage is legal in the state of New York, and as far as reports indicate, the speech wasn’t meant to deal extensively with the legal problems facing same sex couples across the nation. Kameron Slade evidently just really, really cares about this subject, despite his young age.

Kameron Slade, a New York 5th Grader, Will Give a Speech on Same Sex Marriage After Being Banned from Doing So By His School Principal

Kameron Slade

Fair enough. Precociousness in children isn’t a problem, and besides, the speech is strictly about marriage, with the sexual component removed. Basically, a child is talking about a subject that many would see as beyond his years, but which he apparently feels confident enough to discuss. No big deal, let’s all go home, right?

Wrong. Because the principal of Kameron’s public school decided, for undisclosed reasons, that this speech wasn’t “appropriate” and forced him to deliver a speech on animal cruelty instead. From CBS New York:

The school’s principal barred Kameron Slade from delivering the speech in front of a school-wide assembly, saying it was inappropriate. Instead, he delivered a speech Friday about animal cruelty.

“I thought my original speech was really gonna win. I was very confident in it,” Slade told CBS 2′s Tony Aiello.

Now, after a minor outcry, the same principal is allowing Kameron to give his speech in a smaller, separate assembly, and parents will be alerted as to the content of the speech so they can pull their kids out if they wish:

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott says a fifth grade student at P.S. 195 in Queens will be allowed to give a speech about same-sex marriage after all.[...]

Walcott said Friday that Principal Beryl Bailey will allow the speech to go ahead in front of a special assembly of fifth graders on Monday.

“This extra day will give her the ability to reach out to those parents to make them aware of the content of the speech because we’re talking about an elementary school,” Walcott said. “She wants to be responsible in making sure that people have a clear understanding of what the speech is about.”

CBS New York also brings this video report on the incident:

Now, some of you may still be wondering why this matter got news coverage. The answer is that, even with the separate assembly compromise, many free speech advocates are crying foul, claiming that the 11-year-old Slade’s free speech rights were violated, and that the new compromise amounts to a “separate but equal” arrangement. Among these are the New York Civil Liberties Union and New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm. CBS quotes them as follows:

“Separate but equal does not work,” Dromm said.[...]

The New York Civil Liberties Union told CBS 2′s Aiello that Slade’s First Amendment rights were violated.

“At a time when Marriage Equality is the law of our state, we should not stifle students from engaging this issue on their own terms and in their own ways,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. “Kameron’s speech is a heartfelt expression of understanding that deserves to be commended. He has shown far more maturity than the adults in his school. His voice should be heard, not sidelined.”

Are these complaints legally correct? Quite possibly. Supreme Court precedent is ambiguous regarding students’ free speech rights, but generally, three standards have to be met before a student’s form of speech can be censored constitutionally. Specifically, the speech has to be A) Disruptive, B) Offensive to prevailing community standards and C) Contrary to the educational purpose of the school. However, there‘s no evidence that Slade’s speech would have been disruptive, his speech deals with a subject which is perfectly legal (IE probably not offensive to prevailing community standards), and the school’s purpose has nothing to do with same sex marriage.

Whether Slade will sue over his treatment is another subject altogether.

Comments (66)

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  • RamonPreston
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:44pm

    Why didn’t he bring oral and anal sex into his speech? This country is sick.

    Report Post » RamonPreston  
    • TamraA
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 5:55pm

      Because his speech was simply about marriage equality and respect, love, and commitment. Why would you make such a disgusting remark about an intelligent young man and his lovely speech??? Now THAT was sick!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Dismayed Veteran
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:47am

    I guess 11 year olds mature faster than my generation. My big concern at 11 was improving my batting for little league.

    This is a tempest in a tea pot.

    Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
  • Mmcxii
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:20am

    The kid has a right to his opinion, as long as it is just that; HIS opinion. As far as the school’s decision to deny him to speak on that subject, they were correct in doing so. The kid is a child. Children have no rights. I had no rights when I was a child, why is this brat any different?

    Report Post »  
    • teaplease
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:50am

      Uh. You just said that the this kid has a right to his own opinion, then immediately said he has no rights. Make up your mind before you post. Just a suggestion. Or am I confused?

      Report Post »  
    • Uidai
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:02pm

      The kid does have the right to opinion and speech, however the people putting together the assembly have the right to vet the speeches that will be given in it. The issue is how the right of the school, to determine the topic in its assembly, conflict with the right of the kid to determine the topic in his speech.

      Report Post »  
    • TamraA
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 5:58pm

      Maybe they didn’t let you have your rights as a child because you were a brat? That would be your parents good judgement. Maybe you just weren’t as good a boy as this young man is???

      Report Post »  
  • alrunner58
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:02am

    At 11 yrs old I had better things to do. I was still a kid, that stuff was not on my agenda.

    Report Post » alrunner58  
  • tbeachhead
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:28am

    Want a harbinger of things to come? An eleven year old wants to talk about same sex marriage…and a conservative blog doesn’t even see a problem with that, and it isn’t about the kids point of view! Its about whether or not the kid gets to talk about it to his playmates, fresh from their recess. God help us all…when an eleven-year-old’s opinion concerning moraity bears weight in a national discussion! How would an eleven year old have an inkling of how “same” and “sex” fit into a discussion, unless we had already become so numb that we’ve forgotten the meanbing of shame?

    Report Post » tbeachhead  
    • TamraA
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:15pm

      What is wrong with an 11 year old wanting to talk about love, respect and commitment? THAT is what same sex marriage is about, just like opposite sex marriage. 11 is old enough to read the paper, watch the news, and they already talk to each other about each others’ families. Kids know what is going on, they know people, and have friends who come from same sex parents. This is reality. This is life. Your children already go to school with kids who are gay and with kids who have gay parents. They are EVERYWHERE. This young man did not speak about sex, he spoke about people of the same gender wanting to marry each other and love each other forever, you know, the way Christians are supposed to love each other. This is about LOVE. Gay people LOVE each other. Gay people have better marriages than many heterosexuals, and better than many who call themselves Christians. Close minded people who hate will not last long in this new world. The next generation will accept and love those who are “different,” and maybe your kids, who you‘ve tried so hard to brainwash to hate and to fear that which you don’t understand, will actually grow up and throw off the ugliness and embrace everyone, no matter their orientation, color, ethnicity, etc.

      Report Post »  
  • ARSILHOUETTE
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:15am

    Is this what our country has come to? A winny 11 year old gets national attention because his principal wouldn’t let him give a speech on a subject he did not prepare for and everyone goes bullistic. I think all the armchair school administrators and bloggers need to back off and quit jumping on every little decision that is made by teachers and administrators. This was really a non story as far as I a concerned and Blaze should not have been sucked into it. Ok he got his 15 min of fame, time to move on.

    Report Post »  
  • GrayPanther
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:13am

    Could he have played his race card? Where does this put race relations? It does show that PC and our government -and union controlled school system continues to be a thought controlled indoctrination rather than a learning reasoning center.. Let’s stop this crap by electing better people and eliminating all this!

    Report Post » GrayPanther  
  • tricia
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:01am

    I guess a speech about the religious OBJECTION and REJECTION to same sex marriage would be appropriate too?
    The DISRESPECT to families, that teach GOD’s MORALS and LAWS is not something the politicians seem to be able to reconcile These guys are reaping what they sowed. At least the principal understood the speech would be crossing the RELIGIOUS, MORAL, and PARENTAL LINE.
    I WILL CONTINUE TO TEACH GOD’S LAWS REGARDLESS OF THE PERVERTED LAWS THE GOVERNMENT SPEWS. Government intervention into sexual morality is a hornets nest they may not have wanted to disturb
    STAND UP AMERICA

    Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 9:43pm

      I talked to God recently, and He said he has no problem with same sex marriage. All the people who put all that anti-gay crap in that old book you read and said that it was His word, they were liars. God told me that they just made up half of that stuff that they said was His word.

      Report Post »  
    • TamraA
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 7:19pm

      To Chet: I love you!!!! You and I must have the same God!!! He told me the same thing. He also showed me a part in the bible that is incorrect and said that’s how we can tell that it was written by man, because he wouldn’t lie, or make a mistake like that. He said he is watching to see how we treat our brothers and sisters who are “different.” Making sure we love them and accept them, you know, that whole thing about God being the only judge and all. Just sayin’.

      Report Post »  
  • klevalt
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:01am

    I am interested to know the perspective to see if the support for the child is contingent on whether he is for it and endorsing the subject or against it. It is free speech, however, so either way, I support it, and would encourage others with opposing views to write and deliver a speech that will contradict the viewpoint that they disagreee with.

    Would all of these entities have supported him if his speech did not support “same GENDER’ marriage?

    Report Post » klevalt  
  • Ya_think
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 9:43am

    But it is ok with them pulling the song?????

    Report Post »  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 9:09am

    My qustin, why should kids be talking about anything sexual in a assembly? There is no reason to talk about it in front of a whole school with smaller children there.

    Report Post »  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:37am

      Agreed. This speech about sex has no place in an assembly with these young kids.

      Report Post »  
    • TamraA
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:29pm

      It was not a speech about anything “sexual,” for God’s sake!! Jeez. It was a speech about marriage equality, love, respect and commitment. Trust me, they save the discussions about sex and how people have it (both hetero-sex, and gay sex), for the playground. They talk about ALL that stuff when the adults are NOT around.

      Report Post »  
    • TamraA
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:39pm

      He was not speaking about anything “sexual” in nature. Unless you feel that children should not be allowed to mention marriage? He was talking about love, respect and marriage equality. Trust me, they talk about all the sexual stuff ( hetero-sex, and gay sex), like how it’s done and who does it, on the playground where adults cannot hear it. And, they all probably know a lot more than you think they do.

      Report Post »  
  • MRMANN
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:41am

    Our tax dollars @ work–no question that he learned this in health or social studies class. Our children are being brainwashed & we’re paying for it.

    Report Post »  
    • 000degrees
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:19am

      Perfectly legal you say?????? What if his speech was about 2nd Amendment rights and in some cases the lack thereof ??? Methinks there would be protests once again……

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:20am

      It says this subject was close to his heart, it doesn’t say if the speech would have been FOR it or AGAINST it. Maybe his speech was how it hurt the children of such marriages, since his speech he actually gave was about animal cruelty. Perhaps he was censured because he didn’t agree with same sex marriage. But the point of view doesn’t really matter. If the school is teaching the kids about it, he should be able to make a speech about it. You can’t be for free speech, and make an exception that it doesn‘t match your ideals so he can’t say it.

      Report Post »  
    • poorrichard09
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:36am

      No mention of parent(s) in article. Wonder if he has two mommies or two daddies? That would explain a lot, outside of the fact he’s been indoctrinated at school.

      Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:57pm

      It wasn’t hard to find other articles of this story, so I can tell you that the speech was pro-same sex marriage, and the kid has a mommy and a daddy.

      Report Post »  
  • PASSIONFORCHRIST
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:04am

    Did anyone know ALL YOU NEED IN TEXAS TO SUB AS A TEACHER IS A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA?
    This isn’t a put down, their scores are higher then California’s, TELLS ME A LOT ABOUT MY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE IN CALIFORNIA. DON’T NEED ALL THAT EXTRA EDUCATION,CERTIFICATES, MASTERS, ETC.. SEEMS THE LONGER YOU STAY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION THE MORE INEPT YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • antiprogressive
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:56am

      Being that his intent was not mentioned, it would be wrong to guess at his home situation – especially in a derrogatory manner.

      His knowledge of the subject may be about his home or even more likely about the home situation of a friend or relative.

      Either way, I think it would be damn interesting to hear what he has to say.
      Good or bad, right or wrong.

      As long as it is his honest opinion and not something he was “taught” in the
      liberal school system.

      His honest feelings may teach us all somthing we never even thought about…

      Report Post »  
  • lassiegirldawn
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:28am

    How many eleven year olds have this on their minds unless they are trying to justify something at home.

    Report Post »  
    • Inlightofthings
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:40am

      Ot in the case of so many stories lately, a teacher or admin advancing an agenda through them?

      Report Post »  
    • TamraA
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:23pm

      As was reported, there are kids at school with same sex parents and he asked his mom about it. Young people are, generally, not stupid, and a young man with a big heart and a quick mind wanted to show his support for his friend and others. He just wanted to let people know that love and respect are much more important than ignorance and discrimination And, I think he wanted his friend to know that he supports love, even if it is not in a traditional marriage. I‘m sure we don’t want kids to feel ostracized if they come from a same sex family, and I think it’s great that this young man wanted to show his support!!

      Report Post »  
  • SerikFox
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:20am

    You do not have full rights within a public school. Supreme court ruling I believe.

    Report Post »  
    • paulnashtn
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 9:16am

      Obviously, you did not read the last couple of paragraphs of the article

      Report Post » paulnashtn  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:46am

    He should have given a speech about what he learned in his 5th grade sex ed class.

    Penis’s are like lolly pops and boys can stick it wherever it fits.

    I know, it’s rude but, it’s unfortunately true. : (

    What the article does not say is whether little Kameron Slade has a Mommy and a Daddy or a Daddy Daddy and a Daddy Mommy or a Mommy Daddy and a Mommy Mommy.

    Somehow, I think the issue resides with my last statement.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • lukerw
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:41am

    NY is a Constitution Free Zone… and should be treated as if it had Leprosy!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • v15
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:30am

    Public schools are such a joke with their “we’ll just make this **** up as we go” mentality. It’s almost ironic that she forced him to speak about animal cruelty. lol

    Report Post » v15  
  • valleyfever
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:14am

    The “intelligent” adults should have assigned age appropriate topic to the students. This is the American public school system for you. Run by cretins.

    Report Post »  
  • Chancellor
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:09am

    Can’t read or write………But knows all about same sex marriages…….Go figure!

    Report Post » Chancellor  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:27am

      Because he’s black, right?

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • jetmech807
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:36am

      Cause he goes to public school. Not everything in the world is race based, as much as you would like that to be the case.

      Report Post »  
  • donnyho
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:01am

    “At a time when Marriage Equality is the law of our state, we should not stifle students from engaging this issue on their own terms and in their own ways,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

    And if his speech was against same-sex “marriage”, would you still feel the same?

    Report Post »  
  • RebelPatriot
    Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:59pm

    What this child and the next generation should understand, at the rate the progressives are moving they better get accustom to censorship and government telling them what they can and can’t say.

    Not a fan of the topic, but if the child wanted to talk about same sex marriage albeit. The principal may have read the speech and decided his parents influence against same sex marriage was obvious and did not want for him to be the opposing voice to his class mates when it comes to same sex marriage.

    Whether it was pro or con the child should have been able to give his speech.

    Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:09am

      Albeit means although. What you wrote means: but if the child wanted to talk about same sex marriage although.

      Report Post »  
  • MrObvious
    Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:55pm

    So much concern over nothing. lol
    The ACLU hypocrites, getting in folks faces again, big surprise … not.
    The ACLU will fight to then end for a 5th Graders right to talk about SSM in school to defend porno mags, yank 10 commandments references from public buildings (including court houses – US law having been based partially on 10 commandments), eliminate nativity scenes and otherwise push the things beyond their original constitutional intent.

    The ACLU won’t say or do anything about: the mandatory presidential alerts on new cell phones, drones flying all over the country, centralized medical records, federally mandated health insurance, US citizens being assassinated by executive order, US citizens being held without due process, vote rigging, denial of the right of companies (and individuals) to mark their non-GMO foods as non-GMO, banning sale and transport of raw milk (without an outbreak to blame it on), banning access to medicine that treats autoimmune disorders without severe side effects and alleviates chemo (they’ve had over 50 years to address this one).

    The ACLU doesn’t defend civil liberties, they crush them, with wild abandon.

    Report Post »  
  • Quack Addict
    Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:23pm

    What do 11 year olds know about same sex anything? This kid a pawn for a parent who wants to push an agenda.

    Report Post » Quack Addict  
    • KevINtampa
      Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:42pm

      Nice hammer work with this comment, hit the nail square on the head. Even so, if the kid wants to parrot his parents, shouldn’t he be allowed to do so?

      Report Post »  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:52pm

      This young man is very articulate for his age. It may be an opinion he reached on his own. Or maybe he was influenced by his parents. So what? He has a right to speak.

      Besides, I have doubts if he was against same-sex marriage that you would be so concerned about who influenced him or the agenda.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:12am

      The kids who are raised by same sex couples know about it. And the kids who go to school with the kids who are raised by same sex couples know about it. So why shouldn’t the rest of them?

      Report Post »  
  • Servant Of YHVH
    Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:08pm

    ‘many free speech advocates are crying foul, claiming that the 11-year-old Slade’s free speech rights were violated, and that the new compromise amounts to a “separate but equal” arrangement. Among these are the New York Civil Liberties Union and New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm.”

    I really hate to call people “fools” but sometimes you have to when they so strongly act the part. Aren‘t these idiots smart enough to know that they are talking about a student at an elementary school and it is the schools’ responsibility to treat these kids as kids and students. This “free-speech” cr*p is full of cr*p(actually more likely these liberal progressive wackos are full.

    Report Post » Servant Of YHVH  
    • spirited
      Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:34pm

      These mental giants will be touting that first graders (or at least, third graders) should create the curriculum.

      :^ kids are people too…

      Report Post » spirited  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:43pm

      Fifth grade is generally where students start getting basic sex-education. This is not beyond the pale, outside of a 10-11 year old’s understanding. A school’s responsibility is not only to educate children, but teach them to think. Simply because a student expresses an opinion you do not like (and one that falls within the Supreme Court’s guidelines) does not mean he should be censored.

      Funny; conservatives are always talking about how much they love the Constitution, but when it comes time for someone to stand up for their rights and protect the Constitution, you call those people “fools” and say their complaints are “crap.” Conservatives hate the Constitution every bit as much as liberals.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • MrObvious
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:50am

      @Bruce p – They’re having the kid give the speech after parents get the applicable content warnings up front. The public school system may have limited censorship rights; but, parents don’t have those limits. What parents have is a right to be informed upfront of potentially controversial content
      .
      The speech is still being given, just at a different time.

      This is a non-issue, being made into one, by the ACLU and liberal reporters.

      It‘s not like we’re talking about a high school graduation speech with a god reference – o ya, the ACLU helped atheists get a school to ban that one.

      Which side of free speech are you on?
      - Adults, at graduation, or 5th graders giving a speech as part of a school project.

      I’m perfectly happy with a 5th grader being allowed to talk about SSM.

      I’m also, totally ok with the school giving religious parents advance notice of the topic to be discussed; and, allowing attendance to that speech to be optional (same amendment different clause).

      Once students reach adulthood, they should be allowed to say and hear whatever they want.

      ps: I’m not especially religious; but, I respect the religious freedoms, and free speech rights, of others.
      pps: I don’t believe atheists have a special right to be protected from the word god. Just saying.

      Report Post »  
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