PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Basic Information
In 1997, Lexington High School went against running an ad in the school yearbook by Douglas Yeo that said "ABSTINENCE: The Healthy Choice". The yearbook staff at the school had a policy that political ads are not allowed therefore they couldn't run Yeo's advertisement. Although they refunded his money and ad, Yeo was angry about their policy and sued the superintendent, the principal, the advisers of the yearbook and newspaper and the Lexington school committee. Yeo claims that they are violating the First Amendment (freedom of speech) and the Fourteenth Amendment (right to due process).
Issue:
The school believes that they should be able to censor inappropriate material but Yeo claims that they are taking away his freedom of speech.
Implications of The Case:
The case decision says that although no one can be denied their right to freedom of speech, that doesn't stop school publications from being able to censor speech that is inappropriate.
Holding:
The local and state courts sided with Yeo at first and agreed that they should have the right to publish whatever they want because they have freedom of speech and press. Later on though, they came to the conclusion that the school shouldn't be punished for wanting to censor material that goes in their yearbook.
