Late last year, Justin and three other students presented their public speaking topic regarding the issue of same-sex marriage. This topic was approved ahead of time by Justins teachers. In preparing for and delivering their speeches, Justin and the other members of his group followed and fulfilled each and every guideline provided by their instructors. Justin initially selected the topic in question and served as the moderator for the group. As moderator, Justin introduced the topic and gave a brief summary of the points each member of the speech group was to deliver. Justin presented closing remarks as well.
The students covered the following areas in making their presentation:
1) Religious opposition to same-sex marriage;
2) Political opposition to same-sex marriage; and
3) Scientific evidence as it relates to same-sex marriage.
Despite their hard work, each member of the group received a failing grade for their assignment. Other than brief notes sketched out by the teachers on evaluation forms, Justin was not presented with any details or reasons as to why he and the other members of his group received an F for their presentation. The day after the presentation, Justin met with one of his teachers regarding an assignment unrelated to the same-sex marriage issue; however, the teacher brought up the previous presentation on the same-sex marriage issue and told Justin that he reminded him of the Ku Klux Klan. This comment was made in the presence of other students in the classroom. Later that same day, during the Law and Public Speaking class, the teacher stated, in front of the students present for class, that the presentation of Justins group was offensive and made reference, once again, to the Ku Klux Klan to which the other public speaking teacher publicly commented, pointed hats and long-flowing robes.
