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Monday, July 23, 2007
Law - A look at student free speech
A "My View" opinion piece in today's Indianapolis Star is headlined "Fighting to protect students' free speech." The author, Warren Watson, unfortunately is not identified in the online version, but from the caption to a photo in the printed Star, we have this: "Watson is director of J-Ideas, a national First Amendment institute in the journalism department in the College of Communications, Information and Media at Ball State University."
Watson's comprehensive piece ends with this:
There is further optimism from academia. The president of a major Midwest university has spoken out against the censorship of student journalists at a high school near Fort Wayne. Jo Ann Gora, Ball State's president, called the muzzling and discipline of a teacher -- Amy Sorrell -- a "dark cloud" over the school "Strangely," Gora said, "her belief in the importance of promoting tolerance led to her punishment."Bad news. Good news. Such is the tenuous world of the First Amendment in a society bending to the right.
The young minds of today's students are shaped by dialogue and ideas and viewpoints and facts and critical thinking. Kids learn by studying and debating. Young minds must be exposed to an open forum of ideas and issues.
This is how democracy works. This is why students must enjoy the same First Amendment protection as their mothers and fathers.
Yes, a young mind is like a parachute. It functions fully and properly only when it's open.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 23, 2007 11:17 AM
Posted to General Law Related