School sued for MySpace 'sexting' punishment

Two sophomore girls have sued their school district after they were punished for posting sexually suggestive photos on MySpace during their summer vacation.

The American Civil Liberties Union, in a federal lawsuit filed last week on behalf of the girls, argues that Churubusco High School violated the girls' free speech rights when it banned them from extracurricular activities for a joke that didn't involve the school.

They say the district humiliated the girls by requiring them to apologise to an all-male coaches' board and undergo counselling.

Some child advocates argue that schools should play a role in monitoring students' behaviour, especially when dealing with minors. And the US Supreme Court has ruled that students can be disciplined for activities that happen outside of school, so long as the school can prove the activities were disruptive or posed a danger and that it was foreseeable the activities would find their way to campus.

But some legal experts say that in this digital era, schools must accept that students will engage in some questionable behaviour in cyberspace and during off hours.

The American Civil Liberties Union, in a federal lawsuit filed last week on behalf of the girls, argues that Churubusco High School violated the girls' free speech rights when it banned them from extracurricular activities for a joke that didn't involve the school.

They say the district humiliated the girls by requiring them to apologise to an all-male coaches' board and undergo counselling.