Final answer:
Pickering vs. Board of Education was a Supreme Court case in 1968 that established the balance between a teacher's freedom of speech and a government institution's interest in efficient operation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pickering vs. Board of Education was a Supreme Court case in 1968 that dealt with the issue of a teacher's freedom of speech. The case involved a high school teacher, Marvin L. Pickering, who was fired for writing a letter to the editor of a local newspaper criticizing the school board's handling of a tax levy.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Pickering, stating that his letter was protected by the First Amendment as it addressed a matter of public concern and did not disrupt the functioning of the school. The case established the Pickering balancing test used to determine the balance between a government employee's First Amendment rights and the government's interest in an efficient operation.
This case set an important precedent for protecting the freedom of speech of public employees, particularly teachers, as long as their speech does not disrupt the functioning of the institution and addresses a matter of public concern.
Learn more about The Pickering vs. Board of Education case in 1968