Information about Bethel School District V. Fraser Case

1. S P E EC H I N S C H O O L S
BETHEL SCHOOL DISTRICT V.
FRASER (1986)
PRESENTED BY:
DENISE PARKER

2. BETHEL SCHOOL DISTRICT V. FRASER
1986
Censorship of Expression in Public High Schools
 Mathew Fraser presented a speech in school for his friend in
an upcoming class election
 The speech consisted of numerous sexual innuendos, mostly
in reference to his friends sexual prowess
 Bethel School District suspended Fraser from school for three
days, prohibited him from speaking at his graduation, and had
his name stricken from the list of potential speakers
 Fraser’s parents felt this was an abridgement of his First
Amendment rights and took Bethel School District to Court
 The Federal Court ruled in favor of Fraser
 The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Bethel School District

3. FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION:
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Bethel School District:
Demonstrating Boundaries
Violation of Code of Conduct
Unnecessary Obscenity
Lower Grade Disturbance
Fraser:
First Amendment Protection
Vague Code of Conduct
No Obscenity
Lack of School Disturbance
The Fraser family and student body felt that Bethel School District
was imposing on Mathew Fraser’s First Amendment rights;
therefore, the punishment was unconstitutional

4. RELATION TO COMMUNICATION
Having freedom of speech is a vital part of
communications
The United States first amendment was in
part based upon the right to persuade
others and express opinions for elections
Matthew Fraser’s speech was in relation to a
school election
Brings morality and ethics into question
when presenting a speech
 Where certain speech is prohibited
becomes a factor in communication

5. SIGNIFICANCE
Proved the schools code of conduct upheld over the first
amendment
Disturbances within schools
Taught students the boundaries and appropriate behavior in various
settings
Created limitations when children are involved

6. CONCLUSION
Supreme Court ruling in favor of
Bethel School District
Fraser’s unnecessary use for obscene
language
School disturbances
Right to make an example for the
teachings of appropriate behavior
Schools have the right to decipher
appropriate speech use within
school grounds

7. WORKS CITED
AdventureAndy. “Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser.” YouTube.
YouTube, 25 March 2013. 15 Sept. 2015.
"Key Supreme Court Cases: Bethel School District v. Fraser (ABA
Division for Public Education)." Key Supreme Court Cases: Bethel
School District v. Fraser (ABA Division for Public Education). Devision
for Public Education: American Bar Association, n.d. Web. 15 Sept.
2015.
Fraser, Matthew. "Matthew Fraser Speech." Matthew Fraser Speech.
Matthew Fraser, n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2015.

8. PICTURE CITATION
 Bethel School District Logo. Digital image. Bethel School District (Washington).
N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.
 Grundvig, Peter. Bethel High School. Digital image. Archinect People. N.p., n.d.
Web. 15 Sept. 2015.
 Man Giving a Speech Silhouette. Digital image. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.
N.p., Dec. 2008. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.
 Picture of Matthew Fraser. Digital image. The Hawk's Eye. N.p., 18 Nov. 2014.
Web. 15 Sept. 2015.
 School: Children Crossing Sign. Digital image. BestMadurai.com. N.p., n.d. Web.
15 Sept. 2015.
 Shestokas, David J. First Amendment to US Constitution: Right to Peaceable
Assembly. Digital image. Shetokas. N.p., 23 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.