Parents sue New York school district after students report self-censoring conservative views
Parents are suing their New York school district for stifling conservative viewpoints, alleging First and Fourteenth Amendment violations.
Three families, represented by Parents Defending…

Parents are suing their New York school district for stifling conservative viewpoints, alleging First and Fourteenth Amendment violations.
Three families, represented by Parents Defending Education (PDE), have filed a lawsuit against Croton-Harmon Schools (CHS) and its school board.
“The District’s policies require the students to self-censor or conform their speech to the District’s views on sex, gender identity, race, national origin, and other sensitive topics,” the lawsuit reads.
“Speech codes punish students for unpopular speech labeled as ‘harassment,’ ‘bullying,’ ‘hate speech,’ or ‘incivility’ – categories so broad that school officials can use them to ban speech based on one’s firmly held views including religious views, or to compel speech contrary to those views.”
These “speech codes” include CHS’ policies on sex and gender-identity discrimination and harassment, anti-bullying and the Student Code of Conduct.
For example, the plaintiffs’ children felt compelled to use the so-called “gender-affirming” pronouns of transgender peers, even though they disagreed with the practice.
Others reported self-censoring their views on politically charged topics, such as abortion or immigration, for fear they would be punished under the school’s vague harassment and discrimination policies.
As a result, PDE believes students’ constitutional rights are being violated.
“The Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear that students have robust First Amendment rights – and that education officials may not trample on these rights at their pleasure,” said PDE President Nicole Neily. “Silencing unpopular viewpoints and compelling the speech of students in a public school system is fundamentally un-American.”
The lawsuit alleges CHS’ viewpoint discrimination and compelling of speech constitute violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
However, the district is standing firmly by its policies.
“We see schools as places where students feel comfortable in, and celebrated for, their own identity and are positioned to make positive contributions to our society,” reads a letter from CHS to district parents about the suit.
“Speech that is harmful to students, which Parents Defending Education suggests should be permitted in its lawsuit, is not welcome in our schools, and does not align with our beliefs as a school district community. We are proud that there is no place in our schools for hurtful and hateful rhetoric.”
The three parent plaintiffs in the case have chosen to remain anonymous, fearing their students would face retribution if their identities were made public.