Vampires Bite Back on First Amendment Rights

Who knew vampires were into social media? A student vampire club, calling themselves The Fangtastics, goes to court when high school administrators drive a stake through the heart of their online postings. Was it a case of protected critical satire or dangerous cult activity?

It's all part of an interactive educational program on the First Amendment and social media designed for high school students. The program offers a teachable moment, applying the precedent set in Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier—the Supreme Court's school newspaper censorship decision— to a fictional scenario involving ever-popular vampires.

In the classroom, instructors may choose an Oxford-style debate or a full-fledged courtroom drama to examine opposing sides of the social media/free speech issue. It's all in fun, especially as Halloween approaches. For more on social media and the First Amendment – and where vampires stand on the issues—take a look at these resources.

Additional reality-based courtroom simulations on a variety of topics of interest to high school students are also available.