Court Turns Down Student Over Religious Speech

While valedictorian, Brittany McComb, was giving a speech at her high school graduation, school officials turned her microphone off. McComb did not give the speech the school had previously reviewed and approved for the graduation. Instead, McComb delivered a speech discussing Jesus' crucifixion, her faith, and credited God for her success. The federal district court allowed the lawsuit to proceed, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit upheld the school's decision to censor her speech by turning off the microphone. McComb, then tried to appeal the decision with the Supreme Court which was declined.

Supreme Court rulings on Tinker, Hazelwood, and Bethel have shown that in the public school system, schools end up having the right to regulate student speech in some way or another. It is logical that a public high school graduation would not be the appropriate forum for a student to deliver religious propaganda. At a school-sponsored event, the school has the right to censor speech.

http://news.findlaw.com/ap/a/w/1154/11-16-2009/20091116072009_28.html