Based on past rules about student speech, the Supreme Court would rule for Los Altos and against Molly. In the 1969 Tinker v. Des Moines case, the Court ruled that as long as they don't cause a "material or substantial disruption," students may speak or express themselves as they please. However, in the Molly v. Los Altos case, Molly did cause a "material or substantial disruption" by distracting Mr. Hayman's class and by bullying another student; therefore, the school could exercise the right to punish her. In addition, in the 1986 Bethel v. Fraser case, the Court ruled that schools do not have to tolerate lewd or offensive language. Molly made offensive jokes making fun of a student who couldn't speak English very well, and because of the
