Regarding this drama in the Chicago suburbs (seniors being expelled for some sort of "hazing" incident), I'm struck by the sheer vitriol of social reaction. I think the anger that the general public and the faculty at the school are expressing has more to do with personal insecurity and a vindictive nature than a desire to help society function in the best way possible.
To punish the students and seek to teach a lesson, not a bad idea. Personally, I don't think it's appropriate for the school to be involved as the actions had nothing whatsoever to do with the school and I would leave it up to the individuals assaulted to press charges. By allowing the school control over the lives of students outside the classroom -given the ability the school has to uphold rules and regulations that are more repressive than those in society at large- we encourage the notion that law is not the final arbiter of action. We teach our children that even though they technically obeyed the rules, these rules are not actually applicable. In effect, we teach our children that the institutions that govern them lie. We teach them that the institutions they are meant to respect change rules to their own advantage. We teach our children that it is not possible to be safe without adhering to a majority social view, regardless of the protections the law provides.
We have to answer the question of whether we are serious about allowing minorities to speak their mind and behave as they see fit. If so, the most critical thing we can do is stick to the laws. Once we override the laws, no matter under what provision, we make clear that it is majority rule and not respect for all people that is important. If we don't agree with your view, we'll shoot you down. And then we sit and wonder why young adults aren't interested in politics and don't have respect for adults and the legal system. Meanwhile, we all know that to get respect you have to give it, and that if you fail just one time to show respect it is as though you never showed any at all.