Sext Ed: Obscenity versus Free Speech in Our Schools

Schools need to be able to regulate sexting, but at what point are administrators infringing on students’ rights? Is teenage sexting a violation of child pornography laws? This book tackles these tough issues and others. In several states, teenagers who engage in “sexting” could be in violation of child pornography laws–and if convicted of such, teens could end up on sex offender lists with rapists and child molesters. The authors of this text examine this thorny issue, arguing that teenagers who have engaged in consensual sexting should not automatically be punished under child pornography laws. Equally important: the book presents in-depth analysis of the issue of school regulations on sexting pursuant to the Free Speech Clause. This book is the first volume devoted to the topic of consensual student sexting, and how the First Amendment may apply to this unique 21st-century phenomenon. It provides an overview of sexting laws in the United States and does a thorough job of discussing the First Amendment issues that all policymakers, educators, and child advocates should be aware of.