Should students be suspended for what they put on Myspace or Facebook?

Nope. that is schools overreaching their authority. Unless the students put it their while in class. they have no right to supsend anyone from putting whatever they want on facebook.

I'm against! They shouldn't it's not on school grounds. Unless it's a threat to someone in the school but otherwise NO

Depends. For the most part, I would say no becasue what a student does in their own time is their business. If it is something they do at home (never at school) and does not have anything to do with the school, teachers, etc. then there is no way a student can be suspended because of it (legally) If there is a picture for a student drinking, for example, that doesn't mean a student can be suspended from school. Can someone report it to the police, sure. But is there something the school can do about it? No, not unless the pic was taken on school grounds.

Yes.

Tough question!! This encompasses everything from freedom of speech / expression to "ethical conduct" & lawfulness. What the real world answer is to this is that whether you like it or not, whether you think it's fair or not, you will be judged and may be punished for what you put on your Myspace or Facebook! But is it right? I would have to say its fair that you are judged / punished appropriately for information that YOU put out there. Even though this is the United States and you are entitled to put whatever you want on these spaces (with the exception of that which is inciting violence) you are not entitled to immunity when someone reads this information and acts on it. (as much as it kills me to say it) If you are part of any organization that has a code of conduct - and I guarantee your school does - then you are bound to abide by that code of conduct. If you are found in violation then you will suffer the consequences deemed appropriate. As much as we would all like to say "what I do on my own time is my own business" and have that be true...it just doesn't happen that way. If you want your private life to remain private then don't publicize it. Trust me I had to learn this the hard way. There are also the legal issues surrounding minors. Much of what is getting students suspended are issues related to them drinking (& being underage). So if what you post is ILLEGAL, then you put yourself in double jeopardy. You invite trouble with the law and also with your school. Just always remember that annoying saying "life's not fair" .... because it's true!

No. It has nothing to do with school. Why not let PARENTS worry about what their kids are doing at home instead?

Myspace and Facebook and other sites like them should be banned and shut down by the F.C.C.. They do more harm than they do good and I don't see why they should even exist. It's only for immature people craving attention.

Are argument boils down to when/if facebook or myspace becomes a factor in the classroom. Obviously there are times when students are on these sites during class, and everybody excepts you to get in trouble for that, but there are also times when what you post at home effects what will happen in class the next day. Lets use to examples. 1. Bobby post a picture of Jenny dancing with Sam, which infuriates Eric, and Eric fights Sam at school. 2. Molly posts a picture of Sue bent over, which generates tons of "fat lard" comments and Sue cries all day during class. Both examples could get you to the principals office because they have distracted students from their main function at school, school work. But the two are very different scenarios. Example 1 could be innocent, if it's an agreed upon picture by Bobby, Jenny, and Sam. Eric wasn't intended to be in the equation, so him fighting Sam can't be blamed on Bobby. Example 2, however, is harder to prove as innocent, and could be viewed a bullying and harassment. Since Sue is the subject of the photo, but doesn't endorse the photo, it could be seen as an attack, and any harassment Sue receives at school could be linked back to this picture encouraging it. How do you argue against suspentions then? Make some ground rules. 1. To be suspendable, a posting should involve people who did not voluntary want to be mentioned. 2. It should generate a disruption during school, not simply disruptions outside of school. 3. It should proven that the intention of the post was to create disruptions at school. (which is a little weaker, but if you can get it to work, it can free you of anything.) What should not be suspendable: 1. Judgments on a persons religious, moral, or ethical character by what they desire to post. 2. Assumptions based on posts or pictures that indicate illegal activities may have occured- who knows what were in those drinks. 3. Any picture or post that isn't defamatory by nature. So if you create some rules like these, that seem logical enough to convince the other debater to follow them, you can prove almost anything is ok to post without retribution.