Latest news with #JohnT.NicholsMiddleSchool
27-05-2025
- Politics
Supreme Court rejects appeal of student who wanted to wear 'only two genders' T-shirt
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the appeal of a Massachusetts student who was barred from wearing a T-shirt to school proclaiming there are only two genders. The justices left in place a federal appeals court ruling that said it would not second-guess the decision of educators in Middleborough, Massachusetts, to not allow the T-shirt to be worn in a school environment because of a negative impact on transgender and gender-nonconforming students. Educators at the John T. Nichols Middle School barred the student from wearing the T-shirt and an altered version with the words "two genders' covered up by tape with the word 'censored' written on it. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. The court should have heard the case, Alito wrote, noting that 'the school permitted and indeed encouraged student expression endorsing the view that there are many genders,' but censored an opposing view. 'This case presents an issue of great importance for our Nation's youth: whether public schools may suppress student speech either because it expresses a viewpoint that the school disfavors or because of vague concerns about the likely effect of the speech on the school atmosphere or on students who find the speech offensive,' Alito wrote. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it was reasonable to predict that the T-shirt will 'poison the educational atmosphere' and disrupt the learning environment. The school district's decision was in line with a landmark Supreme Court ruling from 1969, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, that upheld the right of public school students to wear black armbands to protest the Vietnam War when it did not create a substantial disruption to education.
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Supreme Court rejects appeal of Massachusetts student who wanted to wear ‘only two genders' T-shirt
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the appeal of a Massachusetts student who was barred from wearing a T-shirt to school proclaiming there are only two genders. The justices left in place a federal appeals court ruling that said it would not second-guess the decision of educators in Middleborough, Massachusetts, to not allow the T-shirt to be worn in a school environment because of a negative impact on transgender and gender-nonconforming students. Educators at the John T. Nichols Middle School barred the student from wearing the T-shirt and an altered version with the words 'two genders' covered up by tape with the word 'censored' written on it. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. The court should have heard the case, Alito wrote, noting that 'the school permitted and indeed encouraged student expression endorsing the view that there are many genders,' but censored an opposing view. 'This case presents an issue of great importance for our Nation's youth: whether public schools may suppress student speech either because it expresses a viewpoint that the school disfavors or because of vague concerns about the likely effect of the speech on the school atmosphere or on students who find the speech offensive,' Alito wrote. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it was reasonable to predict that the T-shirt will 'poison the educational atmosphere' and disrupt the learning environment. The school district's decision was in line with a landmark Supreme Court ruling from 1969, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District , that upheld the right of public school students to wear black armbands to protest the Vietnam War when it did not create a substantial disruption to education.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Supreme Court rejects appeal of Massachusetts student who wanted to wear 'only two genders' T-shirt
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the appeal of a Massachusetts student who was barred from wearing a T-shirt to school proclaiming there are only two genders. The justices left in place a federal appeals court ruling that said it would not second-guess the decision of educators in Middleborough, Massachusetts, to not allow the T-shirt to be worn in a school environment because of a negative impact on transgender and gender-nonconforming students. Educators at the John T. Nichols Middle School barred the student from wearing the T-shirt and an altered version with the words "two genders' covered up by tape with the word 'censored' written on it. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. The court should have heard the case, Alito wrote, noting that 'the school permitted and indeed encouraged student expression endorsing the view that there are many genders,' but censored an opposing view. 'This case presents an issue of great importance for our Nation's youth: whether public schools may suppress student speech either because it expresses a viewpoint that the school disfavors or because of vague concerns about the likely effect of the speech on the school atmosphere or on students who find the speech offensive,' Alito wrote. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it was reasonable to predict that the T-shirt will 'poison the educational atmosphere' and disrupt the learning environment. The school district's decision was in line with a landmark Supreme Court ruling from 1969, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, that upheld the right of public school students to wear black armbands to protest the Vietnam War when it did not create a substantial disruption to education.
Winnipeg Free Press
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Supreme Court rejects appeal of Massachusetts student who wanted to wear ‘only two genders' T-shirt
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the appeal of a Massachusetts student who was barred from wearing a T-shirt to school proclaiming there are only two genders. The justices left in place a federal appeals court ruling that said it would not second-guess the decision of educators in Middleborough, Massachusetts, to not allow the T-shirt to be worn in a school environment because of a negative impact on transgender and gender-nonconforming students. Educators at the John T. Nichols Middle School barred the student from wearing the T-shirt and an altered version with the words 'two genders' covered up by tape with the word 'censored' written on it. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. The court should have heard the case, Alito wrote, noting that 'the school permitted and indeed encouraged student expression endorsing the view that there are many genders,' but censored an opposing view. 'This case presents an issue of great importance for our Nation's youth: whether public schools may suppress student speech either because it expresses a viewpoint that the school disfavors or because of vague concerns about the likely effect of the speech on the school atmosphere or on students who find the speech offensive,' Alito wrote. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it was reasonable to predict that the T-shirt will 'poison the educational atmosphere' and disrupt the learning environment. The school district's decision was in line with a landmark Supreme Court ruling from 1969, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, that upheld the right of public school students to wear black armbands to protest the Vietnam War when it did not create a substantial disruption to education.
Epoch Times
10-05-2025
- Epoch Times
Long-Running Legal Battle Over Free Speech in Schools May Be Settled by Supreme Court
The United States Supreme Court is deciding whether to take up the widely reported free expression case of middle schooler Liam Morrison of Massachusetts. The high court was As of publication time, the Supreme Court has not said whether it intends to consider Morrison's appeal. The case arose in March 2023 when Morrison, then a 7th-grader at John T. Nichols Middle School in Middleborough, Massachusetts, came to a first-period gym class in a T-shirt with the words 'There Are Only Two Genders' printed on the front. According to his original The issue was that a teacher and school administrators determined that the wording on Morrison's T-shirt violated the school dress code by targeting a protected class—LGBT students—in the area of gender identity. Related Stories 5/7/2025 5/1/2025 His father, Christopher Morrison, sided with his son's contention that it was his right to wear the shirt. The elder Morrison came to school and took Liam home. Liam Morrison returned to school the next day wearing a different shirt without punishment. According to his 'He [Morrison] wore the shirt to school to peacefully share his belief, informed by his scientific understanding of biology, that there are only two sexes, male and female, and that a person's gender—their status as a boy or girl, woman or man—is inextricably tied to sex,' according to a Alliance attorneys and lawyers from the Massachusetts Family Institute are representing Liam Morrison, a minor, and his parents. Middleborough Superintendent of Schools Carolyn Lyons did not respond to a request for comment by publication time. Explanation and Resolution Sought Shortly after the incident, Christopher Morrison contacted school officials seeking a further explanation. He was reminded that he and his wife had signed a copy of the dress code, which states in part: 'Clothing must not state, imply, or depict hate speech or imagery that target groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any other classification,' according to the petition. The Morrisons denied the message on Liam's shirt is 'hate speech,' saying in the petition it is a general statement not directed at any individual or group. According to the petition, a few weeks later, school administrators received a lengthy An Alternate View Liam and his parents knew that his opinion ran contrary to the school's official orthodoxy on gender, a dogma Liam said that 'in good conscience' he could not accept. His attorneys asked school officials to respect his view and allow him to continue to express his beliefs through what they described as a passive, non-threatening message on his T-shirt. Liam Morrison. Courtesy of the Alliance Defending Freedom The demand letter stated that Liam Morrison intended to wear his T-shirt again, and it put the school on notice that hindering him from wearing it was a violation of his constitutional rights. If Liam's right to free expression was not respected, 'it may be necessary to take legal action against the school district,' the letter said. Attorney for the school district, Kay Hodge, A day later, Liam Morrison wore the T-shirt to school, but this time the words 'Only Two' were taped over and replaced with the word 'Censored.' The T-shirt read, 'There Are CENSORED Genders.' Liam Morrison's second gesture of protest was stopped by the administration, and this time, the honor student chose to change shirts so he could remain in class. Alleged Viewpoint Discrimination On May 19, 2023, the Morrisons filed a verified The complaint stated that the United States Constitution protects Morrison's free expression 'by prohibiting the government from adopting and enforcing a set of approved views on these matters in America's public schools.' Morrison alleges that John T. Nichols Middle School has done just that in dealing with the topic of gender. He contends the school's demonstrated approved view is that a person's subjective identity determines whether a person is male or female, not a person's sex. According to Morrison, any deviation from this official orthodoxy is prohibited in school, while affirming speech on the topic is celebrated. Morrison's complaint argued that his shirt caused no disruptions. The complaint asked the court for preliminary injunctive relief and a temporary restraining order so that Morrison could continue wearing his T-shirt. A Clash of Rights The school replied that it had received complaints from staff and students about the message on Morrison's shirt, contending that it infringed on the rights of trans and gender non-conforming students, who are a protected class under Massachusetts law. The federal district court found in favor of the school, and Morrison appealed the decision to the First Circuit Court of Appeals. During the appeal, the school acknowledged that there were no disputes of fact in the case. Attorneys for the school presented evidence that 20 students said in a survey that they had concerns about the school environment for LGBT students, and that 10 to 20 students participated in the Gay Straight Alliance Club at Nichols Middle School. The appeals court The administrators contended that school was a unique environment composed of 'an immature and captive audience,' in which violations of the 'right to be left alone' interfere with their 'right to learn.' They argued that the demeaning of personal characteristics crushes a child's sense of self-worth and impedes the ability to learn. The concern of school officials over the suicide rate and the rise in suicidal ideation among transgender and gender-nonconforming students weighed heavily upon the court's decision. In its 70-page ruling dated June 9, 2024, the First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling of the district court denying the right of Morrison to wear his T-shirt in school. The decision noted that the latitude of freedom of speech is not as broad in the school environment as it is out in the community at large, and affirmed that school officials should determine the appropriateness of speech in their unique settings and circumstances free from judicial interference. The battle lines are now drawn for a fight in the U.S. Supreme Court, if the high court decides to take up the case. An amicus brief opposing Morrison's position has been filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. Attorneys general from 18 states, along with numerous conservative organizations, such as the Pacific Justice Institute, Parents Defending Education, and the Religious Broadcasters Association, have filed an amicus brief supporting Morrison's right to free expression.
