Future of the First Amendment: What America

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Future of the First AmendmentWhat Americas
High School Students Think About Their Freedoms

• A Presentation Summarizing the 2005 Study
• John S. and James L. Knight Foundation,
• University of Connecticut
• Prepared by J-Ideas

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The First Amendment

• Congress shall make no law respecting an
  establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
  free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom
  of speech, or of the press or the right of the
  people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
  government for a redress of grievances.
• --- Amendment 1 of the Constitution of the United
  States of America

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LARGEST PROJECT OF ITS KIND
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About the Research

• The University of Connecticuts Center for Survey
  Research and Analysis conducted the study, the
  largest ever of its kind.
• David Yalof and Kenneth Dautrich were principal
  investigators. Erin St. Onge was project
  manager.
• The study was conducted in April/ May 2004 at 544
  high schools, and was designed to be
  representative of all private and public schools.

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Why Conduct the Study

• Civic education is crucial to developing
  well-informed and responsible citizens. By
  surveying students across the country as to their
  awareness and appreciation of First Amendment
  rights, the Knight Foundation has provided a
  timely window into this important and often
  overlooked aspect of the educational process.
• --- Kenneth Dautrich, Chairman of Connecticuts
  Department of Public Policy

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Research Shows High SchoolsLeave First Amendment
Behind

• 2-year, 1 million research project commissioned
  by the Knight Foundation and conducted by the
  Uconn Center for Survey Research and Analysis.
• Survey of 100,000 high school students, 8,000
  teachers and more than 500 administrators and
  principals.
• Key finding Educators are not giving students an
  appreciation of freedom of speech and a free
  press.

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Results Are Not Only Disturbing They Are
Dangerous

• These results are not only disturbing they are
  dangerous. Ignorance about the basics of this
  free society is as much a danger to its future as
  any terrorist plot.
• --- Hodding Carter III, Chairman and CEO,
  John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

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STUDY HIGHLIGHTS
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Major Highlights

• Nearly 75 of high school students surveyed
  either do not know how they feel about the First
  Amendment or admit they take it for granted.
• 75 erroneously think flag-burning is illegal.
• 50 believe the government can censor the
  Internet.
• More than a third think the First Amendment goes
  too far in the rights it guarantees.
• Survey suggests that First Amendment rights would
  be known if they were classroom staples.

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But They Are Not!

• 21 of all high schools have no student media
  whatsoever.
• Of schools that do not offer papers, 40 have
  eliminated them in the last five years.
• Principals say journalism is a priority for their
  school, but only 20 percent think it is a high
  priority, and 33 percent say it is not a priority
  at all.

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Importance of the First AmendmentLike the
monument you never visit

• The First Amendment is the cornerstone of our
  democratic society. Unfortunately, young people
  dont live it enough. It becomes like the granite
  monument in the park that you never visit.
• --- Sandy Woodcock, Director, Newspaper
  Association of American Foundation

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Importance of the First AmendmentGive a
meaningful voice

• The biggest obstacle to practicing First
  Amendment principles is the undemocratic,
  repressive way in which many schools are run. If
  schools want to take the First Amendment
  seriously, they must give students and all
  members of the school community a meaningful
  voice in shaping the life of the school.
• --- Charles Haynes, Senior Scholar, First
  Amendment Ctr.

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WHAT CAN BE DONE
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Some Encouraging Results

• The more students are exposed to the First
  Amendment and use of news media in the classroom,
  and the more they are involved in student
  journalism, the greater their appreciation of
  First Amendment rights of American citizens.

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Ideas from Scholastic Media Experts

• Encourage more and better student media.
• Focus on principals and administrators.
• Involve professional editors as mentors.
• Address teaching standards and core curricula
  nationally and state-by-state.
• In short, revive the civic mission of schools.

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Start From The Top Down

• Support for the teaching of student media and
  First Amendment has to come from the top down,
  from the superintendent of schools to the
  principal to the adviser to the student. Too
  often the newspaper adviser is the new kid on
  the block who is far more interested in getting
  tenure than rocking the boat.
• --- Rich Holden, Executive Director, Dow Jones
  Newspaper Fund

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A Call to Action

• The report is a call to action. Scholastic media
  training organizations must also focus on
  principals and administrators. They can make or
  break programs. Lets develop for-credit courses
  in the student media and First Amendment and
  tailor them for the principals. This would show
  them how they can balance all their concerns AND
  encourage student media and expression.
• --- Warren Watson, Director, J-Ideas

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Build and Nurture Quality Media

• One effective remedy is to build and nurture
  quality student media that operates freely and
  without censorship. Media by and for students
  engages the school community. It is democracy in
  action.
• --- Diana Mitsu Klos, Senior Project Director,
  American Society of Newspaper Editors high school
  project

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RESOURCES
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Scholastic Journalism ResourcesHelping You
Protect First Amendment in Schools

• ASNE American Society of Newspaper Editors
• ---www.highschooljournalism.org
• SPLC Student Press Law Center
• ---www.splc.org
• First Amendment Center
• ---www.firstamendmentcenter.org
• Radio and Television News Directors Foundation
• www.rtndf.org/resources/highschool.html
• Journalism Education Association
• ---www.jea.org

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Other Resources J-Ideas High School Initiative
at Ball State

• Home to the Future of the First Amendment
  project.
• Check for updates and resource tools.
• A program dedicated to scholastic journalism and
  First Amendment awareness.

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J-Ideas Website www.jideas.org
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Whats at Stake?

• What kind of citizens do we want in 10 or 20 or
  30 years? Do we want citizens who will blindly
  accept whatever the government tells them, or do
  we want a citizenry that expects the government
  to operate openly and transparently?
• --- Barbara Thill, Publications Adviser,
  Journalism Teacher, Chicago

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For More Information

• Consult the studys web site
• www.firstamendmentfuture.org
• THANKS!