High Schoolers Clueless About 1st Amendment

Reba · 01-31-2005, 06:51 PM

Survey Finds First Amendment Is Being Left Behind in U.S. High Schools
Jan. 31, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new national study, the largest of its kind, says America’s high schools are leaving the First Amendment behind.

In particular, educators are failing to give high school students an appreciation of the First Amendment’s guarantees of free speech and a free press, say researchers from the University of Connecticut, who questioned more than 100,000 high school students, nearly 8,000 teachers, and more than 500 administrators and principals.

The two-year, $1 million research project, titled “The Future of the First Amendment,” was commissioned by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The survey suggests that First Amendment rights – freedom of speech, of the press, of religion, of assembly and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances – would be universally known if they were classroom staples.

“High school attitudes about the First Amendment are important because each generation of citizens helps define what freedom means in our society,” the report reads.

Among its findings:

Nearly three-fourths of high school students either do not know how they feel about the First Amendment or admit they take it for granted.

Seventy-five percent erroneously think flag burning is illegal.

Half believe the government can censor the Internet.

More than a third think the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees.

“These results are not only disturbing; they are dangerous,” said Knight Foundation President and CEO Hodding Carter III. “Ignorance about the basics of this free society is a danger to our nation’s future.”

for the rest of the story:
http://www.knightfdn.org/default.asp...irstamend.html

Vance · 01-31-2005, 07:05 PM

Yep. I read about it this morning or noon, their ignorance scared the shit out of me and many people (I checked several sites).

In fact, I got this email with a link from one of my swedish friends with a note: "You have to live with us right away!" :/

DeafSCUBA98 · 01-31-2005, 07:25 PM

wow! i never knew that burning a flag is legal... i always thought its illegal.. cuz i alwasy see police arrest them

ravensteve1961 · 01-31-2005, 08:19 PM

Well the supreme court said its ok to burn the american flag. So the lawyers should sue the police dept for arresting them for burning the american flag as a first admendment volation. I wish a girl or an african american would burn the american flag so the ACLU can take their case.

Dennis · 01-31-2005, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeafSCUBA98

wow! i never knew that burning a flag is legal... i always thought its illegal.. cuz i alwasy see police arrest them

You can burn a flag safely, that's when it's legal. If you do something hazardous with the flag and possibly endanger the public (which is often when burned in protest) then it's illegal.

ravensteve1961 · 01-31-2005, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis

(which is often when burned in protest) then it's illegal.

Like i said if a girl or an african american would burn the american flag the ACLU would take their case.

01-31-2005, 06:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
Reba Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 16,091	High Schoolers Clueless About 1st Amendment Survey Finds First Amendment Is Being Left Behind in U.S. High Schools Jan. 31, 2005 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new national study, the largest of its kind, says America’s high schools are leaving the First Amendment behind. In particular, educators are failing to give high school students an appreciation of the First Amendment’s guarantees of free speech and a free press, say researchers from the University of Connecticut, who questioned more than 100,000 high school students, nearly 8,000 teachers, and more than 500 administrators and principals. The two-year, $1 million research project, titled “The Future of the First Amendment,” was commissioned by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The survey suggests that First Amendment rights – freedom of speech, of the press, of religion, of assembly and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances – would be universally known if they were classroom staples. “High school attitudes about the First Amendment are important because each generation of citizens helps define what freedom means in our society,” the report reads. Among its findings: Nearly three-fourths of high school students either do not know how they feel about the First Amendment or admit they take it for granted. Seventy-five percent erroneously think flag burning is illegal. Half believe the government can censor the Internet. More than a third think the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees. “These results are not only disturbing; they are dangerous,” said Knight Foundation President and CEO Hodding Carter III. “Ignorance about the basics of this free society is a danger to our nation’s future.” for the rest of the story: http://www.knightfdn.org/default.asp...irstamend.html

01-31-2005, 07:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
DeafSCUBA98 my cute fish of the year! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: land of 10,000 lakes and living by one of them Posts: 4,627	wow! i never knew that burning a flag is legal... i always thought its illegal.. cuz i alwasy see police arrest them __________________ Nucleus Freedom 04/18/05 activiated 05/16/05

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01-31-2005, 07:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Vance Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 4,280	Yep. I read about it this morning or noon, their ignorance scared the shit out of me and many people (I checked several sites). In fact, I got this email with a link from one of my swedish friends with a note: "You have to live with us right away!" :/

01-31-2005, 08:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
ravensteve1961 Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Here Posts: 3,940	Well the supreme court said its ok to burn the american flag. So the lawyers should sue the police dept for arresting them for burning the american flag as a first admendment volation. I wish a girl or an african american would burn the american flag so the ACLU can take their case.