A new study reveals that far too many US high school students don't seem to understand the meaning of free speech, aren't taught about the First Amendment, or simply don't care. A few choice excerpts from the AP story:
…When told of the exact text of the First Amendment, more than one in three high school students said it goes "too far" in the rights it guarantees. Only half of the students said newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories…
Three in four students said flag burning is illegal…
About half the students said the government can restrict any indecent material on the Internet.
Who is teaching these kids?
Link
UPDATE: Fortunately at least some students aren't being entirely short-changed by their schools, as this email from BB reader Maxx points out:
"I am a junior (11th grade) at Cocalico High School. Our school has a mandatory course named Principals of Democracy. In this class, we are taught everything about the Constitution including an in depth study of the Bill of Rights. The students must also write a essay about a section of the bill of rights and also conduct a formal debate against fellow classmates. On this essay we must use at least 34 sources and my paper turned out to be 16 pages on the second amendment right to bear arms. So, just to clarify, some of us do know a thing or two about the constitution. Also, as students, we do not have the right to free speech, protection from unreasonable search or seizure, or freedom of assembly."
UPDATE: As reader Steve Jones points out, the common "principals" vs. "principles" spelling error in Maxx's email is particularly ironic in this case.
UPDATE: Blogger Britta Gustafson says:
Students do have the right to free speech, protection from unreasonable search or seizure, and freedom of assembly. The rights are more restricted than those of adults, but we have them. The extent depends on your state and school district.
I'm in 12th grade at a high school in the horrible Los Angeles Unified School District. My friends and I started an underground newspaper because the principal insisted on prior review if we did an official one. She can't stop us from publishing and distributing our paper as long as it is not disruptive, libelous, or obscene. We can only be searched randomly or if there is reasonable suspicion. We are free to assemble on and off campus as long as it is not disruptive.
The problem is that students don't have the resources to protect their rights. We get suspended if we don't wear the school uniform — even though mandatory uniforms are illegal — and we can't do much about it. The District bureaucrats don't care and legal action is out of reach for most of us.
But we write about it. High school journalism is still alive — and the best way for us to learn what our 1st Amendment rights really mean.
