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to their graduation caps, setting off a dis-

understanding the development of life on

pute between the school district, students,

Earth. Many critics of the 10-year-old dis-

and the Salt River Prima-Maricopa Indian

claimer were relatively mum in the discus-

Community. The students wanted to wear

sion about keeping it, but remained

the feathers because they considered

opposed--if somewhat resigned--to its

doing so a rite of passage. District spokes-

use. "They know nothing is going to be

woman Kathy Bareiss, however, said that

done about it," explained disclaimer oppo-

nent Randall Johnson.58

no graduating student would be allowed

to wear anything showing affiliations or

cultural associations because the gradua-

Alaska

tion ceremony is intended "to honor all of

Freedom of Expression

· Juneau--In March, the 9th U.S. Circuit

the academic achievements of the whole

class and not an individual affiliation."

Court of Appeals decided that in January

This policy was reversed, though, after two

2002 the Juneau school district had violat-

days of negotiations, with Mesa Super-

ed high school student Joseph Frederick's

intendent Debra Duvall explaining that

rights when his principal suspended him

she changed her mind because "this is a

for refusing to take down a sign saying

time-honored tradition . . . bestowing this

"Bong Hits 4 Jesus" as the Olympic Torch

feather is a designation of a major event, or

passed through Juneau. Frederick was not

a significant event, in the life of that indi-

on school property at the time of the inci-

vidual." However, that decision left other

dent but was at a school-sanctioned event,

people unhappy. After the reversal was

so principal Deborah Morse felt that she

announced, school board member Rich

had to choice but to punish Frederick for

Crandall complained that he feared the

refusing to drop the sign she thought

decision would let students display all

endorsed illegal drug use. Frederick, how-

kinds of symbols at graduation.61

ever, saw Morse's actions as a violation of

his free speech rights, as did the 9th Circuit

Court of Appeals. But this fight is not yet

Multiculturalism

· In the wake of actor Morgan Freeman's

over: In December 2006 the Supreme

Court agreed to hear Frederick's case.59

calling the annual observation of Black

History Month "ridiculous" because

"Black history is American history," in

Arizona

January several Arizonans argued that

Freedom of Expression

· Tucson--In May, a speech at Tucson High

the month was still needed, and that

schools in the state were not doing

School by United Farm Workers activist

enough to teach African-American histo-

Dolores Huerta, in which she said "Repub-

ry. "Being a Black American man, I don't

licans hate Latinos," elicited an immediate

think (public schools) taught me enough

response from many Republican state leg-

about my culture," Doug Harris, an

islators. They suggested that the Tucson

English and history teacher at Desert

Unified School District might be "brain-

Vista High in Tempe, told The Arizona

washing" students. Defenders of the

Republic. Similarly, Arizona State Univers-

Huerta's appearance responded by noting

ity student Lynne Houston said that "the

that the First Amendment protects speech

reality is that American history does not

and suggesting that state legislators stay

out of local business.60

include Black history right now."62

· Mesa--In mid-May, Native American stu-

dents slated to graduate from Westwood

Sex Education

· Tempe--In June, the Kyrene School Board

High School were told that they would be

prohibited from attaching eagle feathers

came under significant criticism by par-

17