School resource officers in the Maize, Kan., district issue citations that carry fines of up to $50 to students who use profane or foul language that causes “a substantial disruption at school,” a district spokesperson told the Student Press Law Center.
Students have raised questions about whether the actions, first reported in Play, a Maize High School publication, violate their free-speech rights and whether it is the role of school police to discipline them for such behavior. Four students received the citations in the fall semester.
Advocates pushing for fairer discipline policies have said school police should not be involved in such routine actions. And the National Association of School Resource Officers recently issued a statement saying that it agrees.
The district defended the practice as a proper application of state law.
