The First Amendment: Free Of Expression :: essays research papers

The First Amendment Free of Expression     In 1787 our forefathers ratified the constitution of the United Statesof America, which contains the more or less important document to both American citizen,the lodge of Rights. The first amendment of the Bill of Rights states     Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of     religion, or prohibiting the establishment thereof or     abridging the exemption of speech or of the press or the right of     the people pacifically to assemble, and to petition the      authorities for a redress of grievances.these freedoms (commonly called the freedom of expression) are of the mostimportant rights in a truly democratic society. Without them there would beno new ideas we would all conform under totalitarian formula for fear ofpunishment. However, when I, a common student at West rowan High School tryto express my feelings on "the state of the Bill of Rights in schools today" bymaking a computer entry in mul clockdia class, my work is declared "bad"and my teacher and supporter principal do unrivalled of the most un-American thingsimaginable they ban it. I had to re-make the presentation and lightenthe harsh tone, and also erase the anarchy symbol from it. The teacher saidthat she was worried active me for reasons such as my feelings on the freedom ofreligion were almost satanic, because I said teachers should non be able topublicly practice religion in schools because it depart encourage students tobecome a part of that religion. The presentation was neither slanderous nor repulsive(a), but it did criticize teachers and administrators calling them "fascistdictators". At first I was angry at the school because I could wear clothingthat was obscene or contained liquor advertisements, now they have completelytaken aside my freedom of speech. This of course pr oved my argument thatteachers and administrators are totalitarians. As one journalist put it, "IfFreedom of expression becomes merely an empty slogan in the minds of enoughchildren, it will be dead by the time we are adults." I soon began reading moreand more about the freedom of speech in schools and every time a progeny assuch came up the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the student declaring theaction unconstitutional under the first amendment. As I was reading NatHentoffs book The First Freedom I came crosswise a story in which a student wrotea publisher article criticizing the school administration, soon after he ranfor student government and was taken off the ballot for his critique.Unfortunately he did not stir it in court. The principal sharply taught the