The Silencing of Student Voices Author:David L. Hudson Jr. America's public schools face a litany of problems ? school violence, drugs, sexual abuse and others ? as they attempt to educate the nation's youth. But some school officials' responses to these problems, while well-intentioned, may go too far. Schools are clamping down on many kinds of student expression deemed different or unusual. Ne... more »w "zero-tolerance" policies impose harsh penalties on first-time offenders. Officials have controlled language, censored students' personal Web sites, established strict dress codes, banned symbols and tossed out books. "The Silencing of Student Voices" takes a look at these issues and asks whether such policies ? meant to protect students ? actually may be trampling on their First Amendment rights.« less