Thursday, February 10, 2005
Free Speech goes too far: American High School Students Say
In a recent poll conducted on Free Speech by the John S. and James C. Knight Foundation, American high school students came up with some amazing results. 51% percent said that newspapers should be allowed to print what they want only with State/Government approval. 3/4 falsely believe that flag burning is illegal and 1/5 said that unpopular views should not be allowed to be uttered. I am stunned and really ashamed.
Our education system spends millions more on sports programs than on activities that encourage scholarship and in the end encourage students to seek higher education, which in turn spurs our economic growth and stability. For all of the talk that the Republicans spout on how we need to grow the economy, it amazes me that we spend so little on education in our country. Instead we throw money into the unregulated charter schools and home schooling initiatives in order to placate the religious right, who believe that you can educate yourself right out of the kingdom of god. That end comment was one, from my parent's pastor, delivered in a Sunday morning sermon. This belief belies on even greater truth, religion in itself does not sustain faith, it is faith itself. Keeping the congregation ignorant, is a sure way to hold on to your power and that Mercedes that the Sunday offerings bought them.
Why we have decided to become a nation of dunces escapes me, how we have become a nation of dunces is obvious. Ah for the days when we looked up to people smarter than us and how we hungered for knowledge. Now the educated are being scapegoated by the right, which is somewhat humorous in that those who demonize the "intellectual elite liberals" have enjoyed and do still enjoy the elite lives that they condemn. When right wing intellectual elites like David Brooks pretends to know what Middle America is thinking, we are in trouble. Take a quick read of any of his New York Times Op Eds and you will be amazed at the abject mendacity in which he revels. It is amazing how centrist he seems on The News Hour, but then shills for the right in his columns. (I think that he got beat up way to many times in high school and this is his revenge. Or maybe he spelled beagle incorrectly in the spelling bee. You decide.)
I fear for our youth, that they would allow themselves to be so beaten down and lied to. Where is the rebellion of youth today? Oh, that's right, you can buy it at Hot Topic, Wal Mart, and the Christian Bookstore.
Now don't get to cocky private school students, because the study included both public and private high schools. Ok, I will shut up now. The following are the key findings of the study.
1. High school students tend to express little appreciation for the First Amendment. Nearly three fourths say either they don’t know how they feel about it or take it for granted.
2. Students are less likely than adults to think that people should be allowed to express unpopular opinions or newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories.
3. Students lack knowledge and understanding about key aspects of the First Amendment. Seventy-five percent incorrectly think that flag burning is illegal. Nearly half erroneously believe the government can restrict indecent material on the Internet.
4. Students who do not participate in any media-related activities are less likely to think that people should be allowed to burn or deface the American flag. Students who have taken more media and/or First Amendment classes are more likely to agree that people should be allowed to express unpopular opinions.
5. Students who take more media and/or First Amendment classes are more willing to answer questions about their tolerance of the First Amendment. Those who have not taken the classes say they “don’t know” to First Amendment questions at a much higher rate.
6. Most administrators say student learning about journalism is a priority for their school, but less than 1 in 5 think it is a high priority, and just under a third say it is not a priority at all. Most, however, feel it is important for all students to learn some journalism skills.
7. Most administrators say they would like to see their school expand existing student media, but lack of financial resources is the main obstacle.
8. Students participating in student-run newspapers are more likely to believe that students should be allowed to report controversial issues without approval of school authorities than students who do not participate in student newspapers.
9. Student media opportunities are not universally offered in schools across the country. In fact, more than 1 in 5 schools (21 percent) offer no student media whatsoever.
10. Of the high schools that do not offer student newspapers, 40 percent have eliminated student papers within the past five years. Of those, 68 percent now have no media.
11. Low-income and non-suburban schools have a harder time maintaining student media programs than wealthier and suburban schools.
12. Interestingly, virtually the same percentage of students participate in media activities in schools that offer a high volume of student media, as in those schools with no media programs. Apparently, students interested in journalism find a way to participate in informal media activities, even if their school does not offer formal opportunities.
For further comment on this issue, click one of the links below, or try google.
New York Press
Daily Kos
Daily Princetonian
USA Today
BBC
Los Angeles Times
Our education system spends millions more on sports programs than on activities that encourage scholarship and in the end encourage students to seek higher education, which in turn spurs our economic growth and stability. For all of the talk that the Republicans spout on how we need to grow the economy, it amazes me that we spend so little on education in our country. Instead we throw money into the unregulated charter schools and home schooling initiatives in order to placate the religious right, who believe that you can educate yourself right out of the kingdom of god. That end comment was one, from my parent's pastor, delivered in a Sunday morning sermon. This belief belies on even greater truth, religion in itself does not sustain faith, it is faith itself. Keeping the congregation ignorant, is a sure way to hold on to your power and that Mercedes that the Sunday offerings bought them.
Why we have decided to become a nation of dunces escapes me, how we have become a nation of dunces is obvious. Ah for the days when we looked up to people smarter than us and how we hungered for knowledge. Now the educated are being scapegoated by the right, which is somewhat humorous in that those who demonize the "intellectual elite liberals" have enjoyed and do still enjoy the elite lives that they condemn. When right wing intellectual elites like David Brooks pretends to know what Middle America is thinking, we are in trouble. Take a quick read of any of his New York Times Op Eds and you will be amazed at the abject mendacity in which he revels. It is amazing how centrist he seems on The News Hour, but then shills for the right in his columns. (I think that he got beat up way to many times in high school and this is his revenge. Or maybe he spelled beagle incorrectly in the spelling bee. You decide.)
I fear for our youth, that they would allow themselves to be so beaten down and lied to. Where is the rebellion of youth today? Oh, that's right, you can buy it at Hot Topic, Wal Mart, and the Christian Bookstore.
Now don't get to cocky private school students, because the study included both public and private high schools. Ok, I will shut up now. The following are the key findings of the study.
1. High school students tend to express little appreciation for the First Amendment. Nearly three fourths say either they don’t know how they feel about it or take it for granted.
2. Students are less likely than adults to think that people should be allowed to express unpopular opinions or newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories.
3. Students lack knowledge and understanding about key aspects of the First Amendment. Seventy-five percent incorrectly think that flag burning is illegal. Nearly half erroneously believe the government can restrict indecent material on the Internet.
4. Students who do not participate in any media-related activities are less likely to think that people should be allowed to burn or deface the American flag. Students who have taken more media and/or First Amendment classes are more likely to agree that people should be allowed to express unpopular opinions.
5. Students who take more media and/or First Amendment classes are more willing to answer questions about their tolerance of the First Amendment. Those who have not taken the classes say they “don’t know” to First Amendment questions at a much higher rate.
6. Most administrators say student learning about journalism is a priority for their school, but less than 1 in 5 think it is a high priority, and just under a third say it is not a priority at all. Most, however, feel it is important for all students to learn some journalism skills.
7. Most administrators say they would like to see their school expand existing student media, but lack of financial resources is the main obstacle.
8. Students participating in student-run newspapers are more likely to believe that students should be allowed to report controversial issues without approval of school authorities than students who do not participate in student newspapers.
9. Student media opportunities are not universally offered in schools across the country. In fact, more than 1 in 5 schools (21 percent) offer no student media whatsoever.
10. Of the high schools that do not offer student newspapers, 40 percent have eliminated student papers within the past five years. Of those, 68 percent now have no media.
11. Low-income and non-suburban schools have a harder time maintaining student media programs than wealthier and suburban schools.
12. Interestingly, virtually the same percentage of students participate in media activities in schools that offer a high volume of student media, as in those schools with no media programs. Apparently, students interested in journalism find a way to participate in informal media activities, even if their school does not offer formal opportunities.
For further comment on this issue, click one of the links below, or try google.
