The actions of Iowa school leaders seem at odds with the U.S. Supreme Court's broad protections for a football coach who exercised his free speech and religion rights.
Iowa is also known for the Des Moines School systems' role in the Tinker test (the "substantial disruption" test). Generally speaking, this test is still used by courts today to determine whether a school's interest in preventing disruption outweighs students' First Amendment rights
I am not surprised the school board attorneys advised their superintendents and school board members to couch all their reasoning and PR language in terms of disruption of the school.
Iowa is also known for the Des Moines School systems' role in the Tinker test (the "substantial disruption" test). Generally speaking, this test is still used by courts today to determine whether a school's interest in preventing disruption outweighs students' First Amendment rights
I am not surprised the school board attorneys advised their superintendents and school board members to couch all their reasoning and PR language in terms of disruption of the school.
Spot on observations and analysis, Randy. Kudos.
Excellent analysis of the situations. The pots call the kettles black.
The hypocrisy is remarkable. It's really something that people can use speech to fire people and think their own speech won't be examined.
Double standards. Hypocrisy. I hope justice is served for these two exemplary Iowans teachers.
Fine “Stray Thoughts” this am re: free speech at educational institutions. Another effort now underway to curtail free speech at Iowa schools:
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/10/13/iowa-lawmakers-call-on-regents-to-join-trump-administration-higher-ed-compact/
Regards, Steve Haufe
Thanks you Steve. Your mother and Mrs. Gentry would be soooo troubled by this.