Georgia lawmaker creates COVID-19 whistleblower email

[TomCADem]

Source: CBS News

Georgia State House member Beth Moore is inviting students, teachers or administrators to anonymously report unsafe conditions at schools, which have begun to reopen while cases of COVID-19 continue to rise. One Georgia principal threatened "consequences" to those who shared images of the school, prompting Moore to create an email account for whistleblowers.

North Paulding High School in Dallas, Georgia, faced national criticism over viral photos showing students shoulder-to-shoulder in the hallway with fewer than half wearing masks. The school initially suspended two students who shared the photos, then reversed course and lifted the suspension. Nine students and staff members later tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing the school to temporarily close a week after it reopened.

Before North Paulding High closed, its principal, Gabe Carmona, made an announcement to students, warning: "Anything that's going on social media that is negative or alike without permission, photography, that's video that's anything, there will be consequences."

Representative Moore tweeted on August 7 that she had set up a whistleblower account for "students, teachers & admins to share photos, videos & testimonials of unsafe conditions at school." "I'll give you the anonymous cover you need if you've been threatened w/ 'consequences,'" she wrote.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/georgia-lawmaker-creates-covid-19-whistleblower-email/ar-BB17Yj4R?li=BBnb7Kz

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I guess students in Georgia are learning that the First Amendment does not mean that citizens can speak out about how public officials running schools in an unsafe manner. Instead, they are learning that First Amendment exists to allow Fox News and right wing media to spew false propaganda and for billionaires to be able to give unlimited amounts for campaigns.

[LizBeth]

1. Wow, that will be interesting to watch develop.

[sheshe2]

2. Go Beth Moore!

Less than a week after setting up the account, Moore says she had received at least 650 complaints. The legislator shared a number of the messages on Facebook, saying that they came from teachers, staff and bus drivers who are "deeply concerned" about reopening plans for the 141 public schools in Gwinnett County, a suburb north of Atlanta.

[flibbitygiblets]

3. over 650 responses in less than a week

Rep Beth Moore may very well be saving thousands of lives with her innovative and brave actions.

[BadgerKid]

4. Their school motto "Challenge the Pack" apparently does apply

though the school doesn't want it? Also, that county went for DT in 2016.

[paleotn]

5. Exactly whats needed...

for every district that's reopening on campus.

Now, Mr. principle with a gawd complex. You were talking about consequences? Hmm?

[mwmisses4289]

6. Yay Ms. Moore!

[csziggy]

7. SCOTUS has said that students have a right to freedom of speech

What rights to freedom of expression do students have?

Public school students possess a range of free-expression rights under the First Amendment. Students can speak, write articles, assemble to form groups and even petition school officials on issues. The U.S. Supreme Court has said that students “do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression at the schoolhouse gate.”

There is a fundamental distinction between public and private school students under the First Amendment. The First Amendment and the other provisions of the Bill of Rights limit the government from infringing on an individual’s rights. Public school officials act as part of the government and are called state actors. As such, they must act according to the principles in the Bill of Rights. Private schools, however, aren’t arms of the government. Therefore, the First Amendment does not provide protection for students at private schools.

Though public school students do possess First Amendment freedoms, the courts allow school officials to regulate certain types of student expression. For example, school officials may prohibit speech that substantially disrupts the school environment or that invades the rights of others. Many courts have held that school officials can restrict student speech that is lewd.

Many state constitutions contain provisions safeguarding free expression. Some state Supreme Courts have interpreted their constitutions to provide greater protection than the federal Constitution. In addition, a few states have adopted laws providing greater protection for freedom of speech.

https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/about/faq/what-rights-to-freedom-of-expression-do-students-have/

School speech (First Amendment)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The issue of school speech or curricular speech as it relates to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution has been the center of controversy and litigation since the mid-20th century. The First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech applies to students in the public schools. In the landmark decision Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, the U.S. Supreme Court formally recognized that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate".[1]

The core principles of Tinker remain unaltered, but are tempered by several important decisions, including Bethel School District v. Fraser, Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, and Morse v. Frederick.[2] Despite respect for the legitimate educational interests of school officials, the Supreme Court has not abandoned Tinker; it continues to recognize the basis precept of Tinker that viewpoint-specific speech restrictions are an egregious violation of the First Amendment.[2] In Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, the Supreme Court declared: "Discrimination against speech because of its message is presumed to be unconstitutional". Rosenberger held that denial of funds to a student organization on the sole basis that the funds were used to publish a religiously oriented student newspaper was an unconstitutional violation of the right of free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment. Accordingly, for other on-campus speech that is neither obscene, vulgar, lewd, indecent, or plainly offensive under Fraser nor school-sponsored under Hazelwood nor advocating illegal drugs at a school-sponsored event under Frederick, Tinker applies limiting the authority of schools to regulate the speech, whether on or off-campus, unless it would materially and substantially disrupt classwork and discipline in the school.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_speech_(First_Amendment)

Emphasis added by me.

The Georgia school district that suspended students for posting images of unmasked, crowded students most likely violated those students' right to free speech. I hope someone advises the students and their families on this and that it goes to court.