Future of the First Amendment:What America’s High School Students Think About Their Freedoms

A Presentation Summarizing the 2005 StudyJohn S. and James L. Knight Foundation,University of Connecticut

Prepared by J-Ideas

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

LARGEST PROJECT OF ITS KIND

About the Research• The University of Connecticut’s 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.

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 Connecticut’s Department of Public Policy

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.

‘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

STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

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.

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.

Importance of the First Amendment:‘Like the monument you never visit’

“The First Amendment is the cornerstone of our democratic society. Unfortunately, young people don’t live it enough. It becomes like the granite monument in the park that you never visit.”

--- Sandy Woodcock, Director, Newspaper Association of American Foundation

Importance of the First Amendment:‘Give 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.

WHAT CAN BE DONE

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.

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.

‘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

‘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. Let’s 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

‘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

RESOURCES

Scholastic Journalism Resources:Helping 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

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.

J-Ideas Website: www.jideas.org

What’s 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

For More Information:

Consult the study’s web site:

www.firstamendmentfuture.org

THANKS!