Students do not think Free Speech is important.

[indianablue]

It is sad that today's students think papers should be censored, etc. It is a sad day for America when students start to think it is a good idea to gag the press and individuals.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=4&u=/ap/20050131/ap_on_re_us/students_first_amendment

[tom_paine]

1. They will make the perfect Imperial Subjects of Amerika

much better than their parents and us.

When the next couple generrations asre gone, we will be left with nobody who remembers Free America, the Old Republic.

When the children and granchildren of todays Imperials, who themselves will be so much more morally bankrupt that their forebears, rule, THEN we will see the real and penultimate face of BushPutinism.

Further, they will do so to a group of people who even more so than today's Imperial Subjects of Amerika (if you can believe that) who are PERFECTLY suited for the Virtual Slavery of the BushPutinist sState.

[brown6004]

14. Sad...

What the hell are they teaching in schools? BTW, cool nickname and very appropriate for the this thread. I wonder how many kids these days are required to read Commonsense.

[Roxy66]

2. Bush...and the repugs have brainwashed them too n/t

[WindRavenX]

3. let's not lump all students together

Many of the students that were polled and responded that the first Amendment goes to far are probably sheltered and have had little exposure to academic and intellectual freedom; this is a result of having a school system based on passing benchmark tests- you aren't cultivating thinking. And it's working to *'s advantage.

[BOSSHOG]

4. I think an excellent school project would be

to take away all constitutional liberties from the little fascist bastards for a predetermined period of time. They can't appreciate muscles they have never known to exercise. I believe if such a "project" were performed on a large segment of the population, the republican party would wither away. Their members do not promote constitutional liberties and their supporters think only such liberties belong to them.

[DU_ONE]

6. It is done

America is finished, done, over and out.

[Journeyman]

5. I've seen this same story -- with slight variations -- trotted out...

every half-dozen or so years. If the media goes true to form, expect to see an equally disturbing, hand-wringing account of adult attitudes against our basic rights in the next week or so.

Is it something to be concerned about? Always. An informed electorate with a stake in the continuance of our society is something worth working towards. Will their ignorance hasten the end of free speech? Not as much as the general level of fear has accomplished in the last few years.

There's the culprit that poses our greatest risk: Fear. Fight that, and the ignorant will remain as ineffective as they should be in an informed, functioning society.

[Zenaholic]

7. Once again, education is the key

<snip>
The survey, conducted by researchers at the University of Connecticut, is billed as the largest of its kind. More than 100,000 students, nearly 8,000 teachers and more than 500 administrators at 544 public and private high schools took part in early 2004.

The study suggests that students embrace First Amendment freedoms if they are taught about them and given a chance to practice them, but schools don't make the matter a priority.

</snip>

[Endangered Specie]

8. I think we should just like *pop bubble gum* follow the President..

and like *pop* do whatever he says... :grr:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

9. I still believe it's cyclic.

Let this generation of kids go through life without their rights and then see how much they mean to them. I would be willing to wager that the next generation will not be so non chalant about their rights.

[Obviousman]

10. Well kids, is the Constitution a GOOD thing, or a BAD thing?

I wonder if we dumb it down enough for these idiots what the answer will be, i bet people will still be against it.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

11. Now Amber...is the Bill of Rights a good thing? Or a bad thing?

...take your time sweetie..


"Um...Good thing?" :bats eyelashes:

[Bake]

12. "You have to be passionate about the First Amendment."

How fucking true!! Passionate about something besides Halo 2 or GTA3!

Fuck 'em. It's still the law of the land. Maybe someday they'll appreciate it. When they LOSE it.

Start up a DRAFT and see how quick they appreciate free speech.

Bake

[Ariana Celeste]

16. I love how some people here..

are so quick to say "fuck em" or "draft em". I saw this a lot after elections and still see it pretty frequently.

It's not just the kids.

It is parents, not teaching their kids about how wonderful it is to have free speech. It is parents, passing onto their children hatred and fear of people who are different.

It is schools, for not teaching students more about the constitution, the bill of rights, and what we had to do to be free. It is schools, for not teaching students how life is when you aren't free.

It is parents, again, for allowing their kids to sit in front of tv's for hours. It is parents, for buying their kids tons of video games to play constantly.

It is the government, for not properly funding schools. It is the No Child Left Behind bullshit, for making teachers cram so much info into kids minds so fast that they aren't even learning, just *hopefully* passing the next test that's handed out.

The television teaches kids that the only thing that is important is being pretty, making money, spending money, and winning. When schools put more money into a new gym while their science class has textbooks from the early 80's, that teaches kids that competition and winning is more important.

It is not just the kids. It is parents, schools, teachers, the government, SOCIETY.


So yeah. Fuck em. Draft em. That will make a difference. Right?

[Bake]

17. I don't care whose FAULT it is

Whether it's the fault of the parents or the kids, the attitudes are there. And they will learn the value of the First Amendment only when THEIR perceived freedom is threatened.

So yeah, fuck 'em until then. And their parents too. Since they evidently now control all branches of government, let them sacrifice their own kids and see how they like it. I repeat. Fuck 'em.

And I've been here a helluva lot longer than you have.

Bake

[Nadienne]

19. When THEIR perceived freedom is threatened,

they'll protect THEIR freedoms:

the freedom of heterosexuals to marry;

the freedom of Christians to pray in public schools;

the freedom to stifle criticisms of the president they elected;

the freedom to buy their way out of the draft (and I betcha it will happen that way).

They'll keep their freedoms, even if "they" become fewer and farther between. You'll lose yours.

[Bake]

20. Yes yes yes.

The problem is one of self-centeredness. Our generation was called "selfish," yet we were willing to RISK things for our beliefs; indeed, ours was/is an idealistic generation. The current generation seems more willing to risk its beliefs for things.

Bake

[Nadienne]

21. Very true, from what I've seen.

But, in an attempt to be optimistic, were you in high school when you were risking things for your beliefs? Maybe these kids will learn, once they get out into the bigger world...

[Bake]

22. Yes, I was in high school, but I had two older brothers

One of whom was prime draft age early on. So I knew guys who went to 'Nam early on. I guess my case was a little different.

On the other hand, I had a job, worked for what I had, and didn't get stuff handed to me.

Bake

[Nadienne]

25. When I was in high school,

I'm sure I could have been manipulated into believing there were some instances where the First Amendment goes too far... It would have taken quite a bit of manipulation, though. My mom tried to forbid me from reading Stephen King when I was in junior high. Ever since, I've been highly skeptical of any form of censorship, for mostly selfish reasons. ("I'll be the judge of what is best for me! Be it alcohol, smoking, drugs, or Stephen King!") But maybe my case was different, too :) I was a rebel, and very under-informed in the Reagan/Bush I era.

[pabloseb]

13. Scary, but also did you notice?

Teachers and principals overwhelmingly support people expressing unpopular ideas, but when the wording changes just a little bit and involves specific groups (musicians, students), the students are more likely to support free spech. This tells me that teachers and principals support free speech in an abstract sense but may not support it in concrete situations (which is what matters in practice); on the other hand, the students are, on average, much more willing to support the first ammendment rights in situations that relate directly to them (like publishing controversial issues in the student newspaper).

[fujiyama]

23. Yeah

The two different groups support expression of what's important to them. The statistics regarding unpopular music isn't especially impressive among teachers and principles.

Students don't pay any attention to government and current events in general. Many are clueless about what's happening in the world. But they do obviously want to listen to their Eminem and other groups that may be offensive to some.

That said, it definetely is somewhat troubling and it shows that students are not being educated enough about the importance of free speech in the first place.

[meow2u3]

15. I think this poll is Repuke propaganda

eom

[Cha]

18. Wait until it becomes personal and

they cannot say what they want without fear of jail.

[Betty]

24. Then they won't complain when they're drafted

the little shits. They'll shut up and do as they are told, just like the good little robots they are. The rove plan is coming to fruition.

[hollowdweller]

26. Hell it's no damn wonder! Warrantless locker searches, drug dogs at school

metal detectors and heaven help any kid who says anything that could be construed as violent. No trial guilty sent home. Drug testing for atheletes, I mean under the guise of keeping kids safe we are basically acclimating our kids to living in a totalitarian society. I went to high school in the 70's and I feel so sorry for kids in school nowdays. It's total Nazi.