Note that I said "inappropriate", not "illegal". Deliberately offending people who have assembled to witness a special occasion such a child's or grandchild's high school graduation shouldn't be subjected to obnoxious rants of any type -- whether it's somebody hollering at them that they'll burn in hell if they don't "accept Jesus" or that American servicepeople in Iraq are "murdering children", or whatever. And I think schools should be allowed to impose some appropriateness standards on student speeches -- if not, then why not allow speeches that are obscene or "immoral" though still falling within protected speech parameters? On what legal basis does a school prohibit a raunchy "How I lost my virginity" speech, but allow a proselytizing religious speech?
You equate Christian prosyletizing with a "How I Lost my Virginity" speech?! That's just assinine.
The point is that it is her speech. Some people in the crowd may be offended by a speech defending capitalism after all they've been taught in the socialist school system. At what point do we say "enough" and allow people to express themselves and their ideas within the bounds of decent discourse? Again, how long until the school simply gives a valedictorian the speech they will give to ensure it is watered down enough for the masses? Whose speech is this anyway?
Besides, the valedictorian earns the right to speak on behalf of her fellow students because of her achievement. The schools think others can learn from them. If their Christian faith is what drives and motivates them, how can that be off limits? In the good ol' U S of A, it sure shouldn't be!