Highschool Survey - "First Amendment is a second-rate issue"

[MetalMilitia]

The latest thing to shock me didn't come from the Bush administration, or even a politically motivated meglomaniacal mad man - It came from a highschool survey.

Amendment I
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.

Read it and understand it.

If you want to see how far along the nation has come in decline, I think it's important to get the youth - or the next generations opinion. Why? They will be running the world (should Bush not kill us - insert laugh) in the coming few decades, and after reading a report like this - I'm more than worried about their mindset.

The survey came from Netscape News - I'm actually quite suprised how under the radar it flew. About a third of school kids surveyed think the US government should restrict or censor print and other types of media, news and commentary. They have apparently been brainwashed - for lack of a better term - to think that freedom of the press and free speech carry bad things with them - and should be stopped. Either that or they are slowly being informed that the sources of independent media are unreliable, or otherwise deemed "radical thinking." Somehow they are getting a negative impression of the 1st Amendment. It's not small survey either. Participating was over 100,000 students, 8000 school teachers, and 500+ principals from more than 540 schools across the country.


(AP Graphic)

"It turns out the First Amendment is a second-rate issue to many of those nearing their own adult independence, according to a study of high school attitudes released Monday. The original amendment to the Constitution is the cornerstone of the way of life in the United States, promising citizens the freedoms of religion, speech, press and assembly.

Yet, when told of the exact text of the First Amendment, more than one in three high school students said it goes "too far'' in the rights it guarantees. Only half of the students said newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories."

Read that again.

Even more scary was this : "The results reflected indifference, with almost three in four students saying they took the First Amendment for granted or didn't know how they felt about it. It was also clear that many students do not understand what is protected by the bedrock of the Bill of Rights."

They don't "know enough" by the time they are in highschool to make an informed decision on the first amendment? What the hell are we teaching these kids about it then? Where are the teachers to point out all that the first amendment represents? Censored government controlled media is a good thing? What did we get last time we were spoon-fed government media propaganda? Oh Yeah, that Iraq deal. That's what happens with no dissenting voice... "here comes the propaganda... open wide..."

"Schools don't do enough to teach the First Amendment. Students often don't know the rights it protects," Linda Puntney, executive director of the Journalism Education Association, said in the report.

Does anyone else find this disturbing to say the least? Not only do highschool age kids apparently, not know what it's about, it's not even a high priority. The Bill of Rights, and the Constitution... not a high priority... for... Americans.... in American schools...

With no independent voice and freedom of speech in this country, would the Iraq lies, WMD's, possible election fraud, and prisoner torture ever have been brought up? Nothing to see here, move along citizen! Why don't I just say it - "Welcome to the Machine". The media and Bush administration have removed the word credibility from the media dictionary and now the next generation of Americans don't find the 1st amendment "all that important."

/me turns on the theme from the twilight zone

[Brewloc]

More like every child left behind. 37% have no clue. :amaz:

Gotta wonder whats up with the 1% of principals. I mean come on, just guess and pick one of the other two choices, instead of choosing 'don't know.' Did they ever take a test in college? Narrow that shit down to 50/50 for better odds. Come on!

[Bluemoon]

And to think that this is the future generation Tells ya what our future will be like.

[Keeblergiant]

I'm not surprised at all, especially since more and more people are finding and trying to exploit holes in the first amendment..."Intelligenct Design is science...I SWEAR!"

[lotrfan55345]

Teens are too concerned about the new Chingy single that hits this weekend, who J.Lo is marrying this week, and who to cheat on their bf/gf next. Children are bred that way, from the barrage of ads and attitudes on TV and such. It's good for the economy.


(and you let you know, I DO care)

[Bluemoon]

What if they taught more freedom of speech? There is an agenda out there, and the kids have no choice but to follow it. Kids have to go to schools, schools have to follow a certain criteria to teach. Gee, we seem to be going downhill. Homeschooling all the way, until that is taken away from us.

[MetalMilitia]

I know it's highschool - but I mean c'mon. Those kids can drive a car, and are 2 -3 years or less away from being able to vote... and they don't know / care about the bill of rights and constitution?

What are they teaching them? To memorize them for an upcoming 'quiz' rather than presenting them in a manner that informs what each one is and what it does?

This is the generation behind me? A Buncha computer nerd, MTV watching, cell phone talking, uneducated kids? (Most of AO youth excluded) If they are eligible to vote and sign up to join the military at 18, don'tcha think they should have a little deeper understanding of this subject?

[Keeblergiant]

What if they taught more freedom of speech? There is an agenda out there, and the kids have no choice but to follow it. Kids have to go to schools, schools have to follow a certain criteria to teach. Gee, we seem to be going downhill. Homeschooling all the way, until that is taken away from us.

They wouldn't listen anyways...why would they? I go to school everyday and sleep, and if one of my teachers started rambling on about the first amendment that's a cue that it's time for more sleep. Ugh, I hate school.

[Bluemoon]

Okay, I'm guilty, I was one of the "let's just get school overwith" type. Nope I didn't sleep cause the teacher would always catch ya, but I dazed. Now that I'm in my 30s, I'm learning cause I want to learn. What's even scarier is that they want the kids of today to vote and they are not informed. I don't think anyone should ever vote if they are not informed.

[Keeblergiant]

Now that I'm in my 30s, I'm learning cause I want to learn.

Same with me...but I do most of my learning out of school. Ahhhh, I love bookstores.

I don't think anyone should ever vote if they are not informed.

I totally agree...and what's sad is that most people only vote a certain way because that's how their parents raised them to vote, or because they identify with something other than the candidates political beliefs.

[Bluemoon]

Originally Posted by Keeblergiant

I totally agree...and what's sad is that most people only vote a certain way because that's how their parents raised them to vote, or because they identify with something other than the candidates political beliefs.

Ohhhh, I'm so there. I was raised a democrat and because my mom was a democrat, I was one too. No matter what they said, if they are democrat, I'm all for them. Now because I'm learning alot, I don't abide by those rules. My family does, it makes me sick. Voting for the party that they have been raised to vote for. My family is hispanic and yes, I believe it's a hispanic thing. Boy, trying to get logic in them, is like trying to hammer a solid 10 ft rock. (Don't know where I got that )

[substand]

Oh come on! I don't see what the big deal is. They simply said newspapers should not just be able to print anything they want! Should they? We don't let them print what they want when it constitutes libel, do we? Plus, we have consumer protection in tons of places- like the FDA for example. I don't see why we can't extend the same consumer protections to those who read newspapers- they should be assured that what they are reading is the truth, and not some fabrication or mistake. And what better way to assure us than a Department of Media Accuracy which reviews and clears all news for publication?

[DontBeAfraid]

Was that a joke subs?

[Zyztem]

Originally Posted by Bluemoon

Ohhhh, I'm so there. I was raised a democrat and because my mom was a democrat, I was one too. No matter what they said, if they are democrat, I'm all for them. Now because I'm learning alot, I don't abide by those rules. My family does, it makes me sick. Voting for the party that they have been raised to vote for. My family is hispanic and yes, I believe it's a hispanic thing. Boy, trying to get logic in them, is like trying to hammer a solid 10 ft rock. (Don't know where I got that )

This reminds me of a quote I read once that I will probably screw up here, but it goes something like - "Anyone who is under 30 and is not a liberal, has no heart; and anyone who is over 30 and is not a conservative, has no mind."

[Kohler]

Originally Posted by lotrfan55345

Teens are too concerned about the new Chingy single that hits this weekend, who J.Lo is marrying this week, and who to cheat on their bf/gf next. Children are bred that way, from the barrage of ads and attitudes on TV and such. It's good for the economy.

Says who? Maybe the media gets to 1 in 10 teens. I for one, couldn't care less about Chingy or J'lo- I would never cheat on my girlfriend and I think that the majority of kids feel the same way.