Keep the First Amendment on the Front Burner
TREVOR IVAN
Trevor Ivan is a journalism educator and communication professional . He has worked at the Center for Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University and for the National Scholastic Press Association / Associated Collegiate Press . In addition to serving as a public relations director for several nonprofit organizations , he also judges scholastic journalism competitions , presents at workshops and blogs about journalism education at www . jeducatorreflections . wordpress . com .
T he First Amendment and free speech have been in the news a lot lately . From players “ taking a knee ” during the national anthem at National Football League games to student eruptions on college campuses protesting controversial speakers to marches by white supremacists in Virginia this summer , there is much ado about speaking , protesting , assembling , petitioning and practicing one ’ s religion .
The First Amendment is a topic journalism educators hold dear . It ’ s the rights enshrined in those 45 words that give students ( and everyone ) a chance to use their voices to seek change and to better the world . By seeing the inspiring work students create , we know the power such freedom can unleash for creating informed , thinking citizens .
But it ’ s sad to say your journalism class might be the only guidance students receive about these laws and principles that are the bedrock of how our society functions .
Journalism educators must lead the charge to help students understand how the First Amendment works and to be its most ardent champions . And at times , that ’ s a tall order . How do we help students understand the importance of free speech in a situation in which the speaker degrades those of a different ethnicity or sexual orientation ? How can we teach students to understand the inherent value of free speech without getting drowned out by the loud voices rightfully decrying hateful and vile messages ?
This all begins by educating students ( and adults ) about how the First Amendment works and why it protects the things it does . These are some basic principles to begin the conversation :
+ The First Amendment only limits the government from censoring or punishing speech . “ The government ” includes everything from the presidency and Congress down to city councils , police and even public schools and universities . If a privately owned social media platform blocks a user ’ s hateful rhetoric or a newspaper refuses to publish a commentary , the writer ’ s free speech rights are not being violated . This is also why students at private schools often don ’ t have the same free-speech protections as those in public schools .
Keep the
First
Amendment
on the
Front Burner
T
he First Amendment and
free speech have been
in the news a lot lately.
From players “taking
a knee” during the national
anthem at National Football
League games to student
eruptions on college campuses
protesting controversial
speakers to marches by white
supremacists in Virginia this
summer, there is much ado
about speaking, protesting,
assembling, petitioning and
practicing one’s religion.
The First Amendment is a topic
journalism educators hold dear.
It’s the rights enshrined in those
45 words that give students
(and everyone) a chance to use
their voices to seek change and
to better the world. By seeing
the inspiring work students
create, we know the power
such freedom can unleash for
creating informed, thinking
citizens.
TREVOR IVAN
Trevor Ivan is a journalism educator
and communication professional.
He has worked at the Center for
Scholastic Journalism at Kent State
University and for the National
Scholastic Press Association/
Associated Collegiate Press. In
addition to serving as a public
relations director for several non-
profit organizations, he also judges
scholastic journalism competitions,
presents at workshops and blogs
about journalism education at www.
jeducatorreflections.wordpress.com.
But it’s sad to say your
journalism class might be the
only guidance students receive
about these laws and principles
that are the bedrock of how our
society functions.
Journalism educators must lead
the charge to help students
understand how the First
Amendment works and to be its
most ardent champions. And at
times, that’s a tall order. How do
we help students understand
the importance of free speech in
a situation in which the speaker
degrades those of a different
ethnicity or sexual orientation?
How can we teach students to
understand the inherent value
of free speech without getting
drowned out by the loud voices
rightfully decrying hateful and
vile messages?
This all begins by educating
students (and adults) about
how the First Amendment
works and why it protects the
things it does. These are some
basic principles to begin the
conversation:
+ The First Amendment only
limits the government from
censoring or punishing
speech. “The government”
includes everything from
the presidency and Congress
down to city councils,
police and even public
schools and universities.
If a privately owned social
media platform blocks a
user’s hateful rhetoric or a
newspaper refuses to publish
a commentary, the writer’s
free speech rights are not
being violated. This is also
why students at private
schools often don’t have the
same free-speech protect )́ѡ͔Չ̸͍