Supreme Court Declines Appeal in Massachusetts Student Free Speech Case

“What is perhaps most important is not that the Supreme Court turned down this case – it turns down many cases – but what the case typifies: the incompatibility of public schooling with a free and diverse society. As illustrated on Cato’s Public Schooling Battle Map, an interactive database of values- and identity-based conflicts in public schools, public schools are constant, zero-sum battlegrounds over student expression, religion, representation in history curricula, and more. In this particular case, rule against the student wearing the “there are only two genders” t‑shirt and government is curbing freedom of expression. Rule for him and the shirt might cause a disruption in the school and students who identify as non-binary might feel targeted. What public schooling reality clearly shows is that government schooling must be replaced with choice: funding following children to schools their families choose rather than going directly to government institutions. Then, rather than having to fight for their values – and often lose – all can freely pursue education they think is right.”