Future of the First AmendmentFuture of the First Amendment::What America’s High School Students Think What America’s High School Students Think

About Their FreedomsAbout Their Freedoms

A Presentation Summarizing the 2005 StudyA Presentation Summarizing the 2005 Study

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation,John S. and James L. Knight Foundation,

University of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut

Prepared by J-IdeasPrepared by J-Ideas

The First AmendmentThe First Amendment

““Congress shall make no law respecting an Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress and to petition the government for a redress of grievancesof grievances.”.”

--- Amendment 1 of the Constitution of the United --- Amendment 1 of the Constitution of the United States of AmericaStates of America

LARGEST PROJECT LARGEST PROJECT OF ITS KINDOF ITS KIND

About the ResearchAbout the Research

• The University of Connecticut’s Center for The University of Connecticut’s Center for Survey Research and Analysis conducted the Survey Research and Analysis conducted the study, the largest ever of its kind.study, the largest ever of its kind.

• David Yalof and Kenneth Dautrich were David Yalof and Kenneth Dautrich were principal investigators. Erin St. Onge was principal investigators. Erin St. Onge was project manager.project manager.

• The study was conducted in April/ May 2004 The study was conducted in April/ May 2004 at 544 high schools, and was designed to be at 544 high schools, and was designed to be representative of all private and public schools.representative of all private and public schools.

Why Conduct the StudyWhy Conduct the Study

““Civic education is crucial to developing Civic education is crucial to developing well-informed and responsible citizens. By well-informed and responsible citizens. By surveying students across the country as to surveying students across the country as to their awareness and appreciation of First their awareness and appreciation of First Amendment rights, the Knight Foundation Amendment rights, the Knight Foundation has provided a timely window into this has provided a timely window into this important and often overlooked aspect of the important and often overlooked aspect of the educational processeducational process.”.”

--- Kenneth Dautrich, Chairman of Connecticut’s --- Kenneth Dautrich, Chairman of Connecticut’s Department of Public Policy Department of Public Policy

Research Shows High SchoolsResearch Shows High SchoolsLeave First Amendment BehindLeave First Amendment Behind

• 2-year, $1 million research project commissioned 2-year, $1 million research project commissioned by the Knight Foundation and conducted by the by the Knight Foundation and conducted by the Uconn Center for Survey Research and Analysis.Uconn Center for Survey Research and Analysis.

• Survey of 100,000 high school students, 8,000 Survey of 100,000 high school students, 8,000 teachers and more than 500 administrators and teachers and more than 500 administrators and principals.principals.

• Key findingKey finding: Educators are not giving students an : Educators are not giving students an appreciation of freedom of speech and a free press.appreciation of freedom of speech and a free press.

‘‘Results Are Not Only Disturbing; Results Are Not Only Disturbing; They Are Dangerous’ They Are Dangerous’

““These results are not only disturbing; they These results are not only disturbing; they are dangerous. Ignorance about the basics are dangerous. Ignorance about the basics of this free society is as much a danger to of this free society is as much a danger to its future as any terrorist plotits future as any terrorist plot.”.”

--- Hodding Carter III, Chairman and CEO, --- Hodding Carter III, Chairman and CEO, John S. and James L. Knight FoundationJohn S. and James L. Knight Foundation

STUDY HIGHLIGHTSSTUDY HIGHLIGHTS

Major HighlightsMajor Highlights

• Nearly 75% of high school students surveyed either Nearly 75% of high school students surveyed either do not know how they feel about the First do not know how they feel about the First Amendment or admit they take it for granted.Amendment or admit they take it for granted.

• 75% erroneously think flag-burning is illegal.75% erroneously think flag-burning is illegal.• 50% believe the government can censor the Internet.50% believe the government can censor the Internet.• More than a third think the First Amendment goes More than a third think the First Amendment goes

too far in the rights it guarantees.too far in the rights it guarantees.• Survey suggests that First Amendment rights would Survey suggests that First Amendment rights would

be known if they were classroom staples.be known if they were classroom staples.

But They Are Not!But They Are Not!

• 21% of all high schools have 21% of all high schools have no student media whatsoever.no student media whatsoever.

• Of schools that do not offer Of schools that do not offer papers, 40% have eliminated papers, 40% have eliminated them in the last five years.them in the last five years.

• Principals say journalism is a Principals say journalism is a priority for their school, but priority for their school, but only 20 percent think it is a only 20 percent think it is a high priority, and 33 percent high priority, and 33 percent say it is not a priority at all.say it is not a priority at all.

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

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

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

Importance of the First Amendment:Importance of the First Amendment:‘Give a meaningful voice’‘Give a meaningful voice’

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

--- Charles Haynes, Senior Scholar, First Amendment Ctr.--- Charles Haynes, Senior Scholar, First Amendment Ctr.

WHAT CAN BE DONEWHAT CAN BE DONE

Some Encouraging ResultsSome Encouraging Results

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

Ideas from Scholastic Media ExpertsIdeas from Scholastic Media Experts

• Encourage more and better student media.Encourage more and better student media.• Focus on principals and administrators.Focus on principals and administrators.• Involve professional editors as mentors.Involve professional editors as mentors.• Address teaching standards and core Address teaching standards and core

curricula nationally and state-by-state.curricula nationally and state-by-state.• In short, revive the civic mission of schools.In short, revive the civic mission of schools.

‘‘Start From The Top Down’Start From The Top Down’

““Support for the teaching of student media Support for the teaching of student media and First Amendment has to come from the and First Amendment has to come from the top down, from the superintendent of top down, from the superintendent of schools to the principal to the adviser to the schools to the principal to the adviser to the student. Too often the newspaper adviser is student. Too often the newspaper adviser is ‘the new kid on the block’ who is far more ‘the new kid on the block’ who is far more interested in getting tenure than rocking the interested in getting tenure than rocking the boatboat.”.”

--- Rich Holden, Executive Director, Dow Jones --- Rich Holden, Executive Director, Dow Jones Newspaper FundNewspaper Fund

‘‘A Call to Action’A Call to Action’

““The report is a call to action. Scholastic The report is a call to action. Scholastic media training organizations must also focus media training organizations must also focus on principals and administrators. They can on principals and administrators. They can make or break programs. Let’s develop for-make or break programs. Let’s develop for-credit courses in the student media and First credit courses in the student media and First Amendment and tailor them for the Amendment and tailor them for the principals. This would show them how they principals. This would show them how they can balance all their concerns AND can balance all their concerns AND encourage student media and expressionencourage student media and expression.”.”

--- Warren Watson, Director, J-Ideas--- Warren Watson, Director, J-Ideas

‘‘Build and Nurture Quality MediaBuild and Nurture Quality Media

““One effective remedy is to build and nurture One effective remedy is to build and nurture quality student media that operates freely and quality student media that operates freely and without censorship. Media by and for students without censorship. Media by and for students engages the school community. It is democracy engages the school community. It is democracy in actionin action.”.”

--- Diana Mitsu Klos, Senior Project Director, American --- Diana Mitsu Klos, Senior Project Director, American Society of Newspaper Editors high school project Society of Newspaper Editors high school project

RESOURCESRESOURCES

Scholastic Journalism Resources:Scholastic Journalism Resources:Helping You Protect First Amendment in SchoolsHelping You Protect First Amendment in Schools

ASNE: American Society of Newspaper EditorsASNE: American Society of Newspaper Editors ---www.highschooljournalism.org---www.highschooljournalism.org

SPLC: Student Press Law CenterSPLC: Student Press Law Center ---www.splc.org---www.splc.org

First Amendment CenterFirst Amendment Center ---www.firstamendmentcenter.org---www.firstamendmentcenter.org

Radio and Television News Directors FoundationRadio and Television News Directors Foundation www.rtndf.org/resources/highschool.htmlwww.rtndf.org/resources/highschool.html

Journalism Education AssociationJournalism Education Association ---www.jea.org---www.jea.org

Other Resources: J-Ideas High Other Resources: J-Ideas High School Initiative at Ball StateSchool Initiative at Ball State

• Home to the Future of Home to the Future of the First Amendment the First Amendment project.project.

• Check for updates and Check for updates and resource tools.resource tools.

• A program dedicated to A program dedicated to scholastic journalism scholastic journalism and First Amendment and First Amendment awareness.awareness.

J-Ideas Website: www.jideas.orgJ-Ideas Website: www.jideas.org

What’s at Stake?What’s at Stake?

““What kind of citizens do we want in 10 or What kind of citizens do we want in 10 or 20 or 30 years? Do we want citizens who 20 or 30 years? Do we want citizens who will blindly accept whatever the government will blindly accept whatever the government tells them, or do we want a citizenry that tells them, or do we want a citizenry that expects the government to operate openly expects the government to operate openly and transparently?”and transparently?”

--- Barbara Thill, Publications Adviser, Journalism --- Barbara Thill, Publications Adviser, Journalism Teacher, Chicago Teacher, Chicago

For MoreFor More

Consult the study’s web siteConsult the study’s web site::

www.firstamendmentfuture.orgwww.firstamendmentfuture.org

THANKS!THANKS!