JEA CJE Test UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Summarize Tinker v. Des Moines. - CORRECT ANSWER - Students were suspended by
school officials for wearing a simple black armband to school to protest Vietnam War.
What was the supreme court ruling for Tinker v. Des Moines? - CORRECT ANSWER -
The U.S. Supreme Court held the students' speech was protected. Students, the Court held, do
not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,"
and school officials may not punish or prohibit student speech unless they can clearly
demonstrate that it will result in a material and substantial disruption of normal school activities
or invades the rights of others.
Summarize Hazelwood v. Kulhmeier. - CORRECT ANSWER - The principal of
Hazelwood East High School outside St. Louis, Mo., censored from the student newspaper a
special teen issue section that included articles on teen pregnancy and the impact of divorce on
students that he found objectionable. Members of the student staff sued.
What was the U.S. District ruling for Hazelwood v. Kulhmeier? - CORRECT ANSWER -
The U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri held that students' First Amendment
rights were not violated. The students appealed.
What was the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling for Hazelwood v. Kulhmeier? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the District Court
decision, primarily relying on the Supreme Court's 1969 decision in Tinker.
What was the U.S. Supreme Court ruling for Hazelwood v. Kulhmeier? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals decision and held that
a high school-sponsored newspaper produced as part of a class and without a "policy or practice"
establishing it as a public forum for student expression could be censored where school officials
demonstrated a reasonable educational justification and where their censorship was viewpoint-
neutral.
, Summarize Bethel v. Fraser? - CORRECT ANSWER - At a school assembly of
approximately 600 high school students, Matthew Fraser made a speech nominating a fellow
student for elective office. In his speech, Fraser used what some observers believed was a
graphic sexual metaphor to promote the candidacy of his friend. As part of its disciplinary code,
Bethel High School enforced a rule prohibiting conduct which "substantially interferes with the
educational process ... including the use of obscene, profane language or gestures." Fraser was
suspended from school for two days.
What was the U.S. Supreme Court ruling for Bethel v. Fraser? - CORRECT ANSWER -
The U.S. Supreme Court found that it was appropriate for the school to prohibit the use of vulgar
and offensive language. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger distinguished between political speech
which the court previously had protected in Tinker ... and the supposed sexual content of Fraser's
message at the assembly. Burger concluded that the First Amendment did not prohibit schools
from prohibiting vulgar and lewd speech since such discourse was inconsistent with the
"fundamental values of public school education."
Summarize Morse v. Frederick. - CORRECT ANSWER - In 2002, high school principal
Deborah Morse suspended 18-year-old Joseph Frederick after he displayed a banner reading
"BONG HiTS 4 JESUS" across the street from the school during the 2002 Olympic Torch
Relay.[2] Frederick sued, claiming his constitutional rights to free speech were violated.
What was the ruling of the district court? - CORRECT ANSWER - The District Court
found no constitutional violation and ruled in favor of Morse. The court held that even if there
were a violation, the principal had qualified immunity from lawsuit.
What was the ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court? - CORRECT ANSWER - The U.S. Court
of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed. The Ninth Circuit cited Tinker v. Des Moines
Independent Community School District, which extended First Amendment protection to student
speech except where the speech would cause a disturbance. Because Frederick was punished for
his message rather than for any disturbance, the Circuit Court ruled, the punishment was
unconstitutional. Furthermore, the principal had no qualified immunity, because any reasonable
principal would have known that Morse's actions were unlawful.
What was the ruling of the US Supreme Court? - CORRECT ANSWER - The Court
reversed the Ninth Circuit by a 5-4 vote, ruling that school officials can prohibit students from
displaying messages that promote illegal drug use. Chief Justice John Roberts's majority opinion
held that although students do have some right to political speech even while in school, this right
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Summarize Tinker v. Des Moines. - CORRECT ANSWER - Students were suspended by
school officials for wearing a simple black armband to school to protest Vietnam War.
What was the supreme court ruling for Tinker v. Des Moines? - CORRECT ANSWER -
The U.S. Supreme Court held the students' speech was protected. Students, the Court held, do
not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,"
and school officials may not punish or prohibit student speech unless they can clearly
demonstrate that it will result in a material and substantial disruption of normal school activities
or invades the rights of others.
Summarize Hazelwood v. Kulhmeier. - CORRECT ANSWER - The principal of
Hazelwood East High School outside St. Louis, Mo., censored from the student newspaper a
special teen issue section that included articles on teen pregnancy and the impact of divorce on
students that he found objectionable. Members of the student staff sued.
What was the U.S. District ruling for Hazelwood v. Kulhmeier? - CORRECT ANSWER -
The U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri held that students' First Amendment
rights were not violated. The students appealed.
What was the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling for Hazelwood v. Kulhmeier? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the District Court
decision, primarily relying on the Supreme Court's 1969 decision in Tinker.
What was the U.S. Supreme Court ruling for Hazelwood v. Kulhmeier? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals decision and held that
a high school-sponsored newspaper produced as part of a class and without a "policy or practice"
establishing it as a public forum for student expression could be censored where school officials
demonstrated a reasonable educational justification and where their censorship was viewpoint-
neutral.
, Summarize Bethel v. Fraser? - CORRECT ANSWER - At a school assembly of
approximately 600 high school students, Matthew Fraser made a speech nominating a fellow
student for elective office. In his speech, Fraser used what some observers believed was a
graphic sexual metaphor to promote the candidacy of his friend. As part of its disciplinary code,
Bethel High School enforced a rule prohibiting conduct which "substantially interferes with the
educational process ... including the use of obscene, profane language or gestures." Fraser was
suspended from school for two days.
What was the U.S. Supreme Court ruling for Bethel v. Fraser? - CORRECT ANSWER -
The U.S. Supreme Court found that it was appropriate for the school to prohibit the use of vulgar
and offensive language. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger distinguished between political speech
which the court previously had protected in Tinker ... and the supposed sexual content of Fraser's
message at the assembly. Burger concluded that the First Amendment did not prohibit schools
from prohibiting vulgar and lewd speech since such discourse was inconsistent with the
"fundamental values of public school education."
Summarize Morse v. Frederick. - CORRECT ANSWER - In 2002, high school principal
Deborah Morse suspended 18-year-old Joseph Frederick after he displayed a banner reading
"BONG HiTS 4 JESUS" across the street from the school during the 2002 Olympic Torch
Relay.[2] Frederick sued, claiming his constitutional rights to free speech were violated.
What was the ruling of the district court? - CORRECT ANSWER - The District Court
found no constitutional violation and ruled in favor of Morse. The court held that even if there
were a violation, the principal had qualified immunity from lawsuit.
What was the ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court? - CORRECT ANSWER - The U.S. Court
of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed. The Ninth Circuit cited Tinker v. Des Moines
Independent Community School District, which extended First Amendment protection to student
speech except where the speech would cause a disturbance. Because Frederick was punished for
his message rather than for any disturbance, the Circuit Court ruled, the punishment was
unconstitutional. Furthermore, the principal had no qualified immunity, because any reasonable
principal would have known that Morse's actions were unlawful.
What was the ruling of the US Supreme Court? - CORRECT ANSWER - The Court
reversed the Ninth Circuit by a 5-4 vote, ruling that school officials can prohibit students from
displaying messages that promote illegal drug use. Chief Justice John Roberts's majority opinion
held that although students do have some right to political speech even while in school, this right
