Bristol School Case Study

Amicus Brief
May it Please the Court,
This brief is in regards to the Bristol School District and their policies. A seventeen-year old student, Suzie, attended Central High School in Bristol, Virginia. During Suzie’s relationship with her boyfriend, Cyrus, she sent him some very revealing photographs of herself. After their relationship ended, Cyrus forwarded some of the most revealing photos to upper classmen in the school. This began to draw unwanted attention to Suzie. It became such a disruption in the school, Suzie’s parents contacted the school principal, Mrs. Sheevers, and forced her to investigate and appeal the situation thoroughly. Principal Sheevers, then confronted Cyrus, who denied having and sending the photographs. Then Principal Sheevers sent the school’s security officer to find Cyrus’s phone to check it for the photographs. When Cyrus didn’t have his
As stated in Tinker v. Des Moines, “...[i]t could not be justified by a showing that the students’ activities would materially and substantially disrupt the work and discipline of the school”(Tinker v. Des Moines School District). This case justifies how important it is that the court repeatedly emphasizes the need to guarantee the absolute authority of the States and of the school officials, persistent with fundamental constitutional safeguards, to determine and control the conduct in the schools. Additionally, as expressed in the Bristol Student Handbook, “Access to the School District’s Technology is provided as a privilege and as an educational tool. In order to continue enjoying access to the Technology, each student must take responsibility for appropriate and lawful use of this privilege. Students are responsible for their behavior with the Technology just as they are in a classroom, school hallway or other School District property” (Upper Arlington Schools Students’ Handbook