Student Partners

I love the First Amendment. I cling to it as if it were my birthright, and yet, I struggle with it. The First Amendment can be messier than the Second Amendment. I remember my father teaching me gun safety. What do kids learn about Free Speech? "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but...."

We should teach our children better.

The Journalism Education Association started a Student Partners organization of high school student journalism leaders so that students across the country can practice their First Amendment rights more responsibly. At the JEA Portland spring national convention, some of the Student Partners met for the first time.

JEA Student Partners - Images by bryan farley

The students above from left to right: Ted Noelker (Central Focus, Managing Editor of Multimedia) of Francis Howell Central High School, St. Charles, Mo., Zoe Newcomb (The Broadview, News Editor) from Convent of the Sacred Heart High School, and Meghan Morris (The Spoke, Assistant Managing Editor) of Conestoga High School. In one photo, the students are discussing the program with journalism teacher Matthew Schott.

Henry Rome, the 2009 Student Journalist of the Year, wrote about the Student Partners project in his Friends of the Spoke blog. Henry shows students how to use their freedom responsibly and powerfully.

Some people believe that the First Amendment allows us to ridicule others publicly, and it does. When Some people argue this makes our country great. I disagree. Our Freedom and Liberty make us great. Using our Freedom responsibly makes us better. The Right to hurt others doesn't make something right or great.

The First Amendment is messy. So what do we do? I wish we could look to our Founders, but they could be as mean as our current politicians. Some people argue that "as finite guidance for understanding the plain language of our Constitution, we rely, first and foremost, on the writings of our Founders...." I wish it were that easy.

I honor our Founders, but how can I rely on the plain language of someone who believed that a person could be property? And how do I accept the plain language of Founders who believed that women could not vote?

I don't know how I do it, but I do. I believe that the First Amendment is the cornerstone of our democracy. It allows Americans to correct mistakes. The First Amendment allows people to express themselves. The First Amendment allows Americans to assemble for political reasons and for religious purposes. In this country, we worship how we choose. For many of us, we could not imagine our lives any other way.

Comments

[Mark Lewis]

Our Freedom and Liberty make us great. Using our Freedom responsibly makes us better. - Nice!

1) You don't have to "rely on" or "accept" the ideas of someone who thinks slavery is appropriate, or that government run health care is appropriate. You don't have to provide them with a platform. You don't even have to listen to them. You just can't use the federal government to stop them from saying it.

2) The constitution is easy to change - all you need is 2/3 vote. It is this first amendment that allows you to campaign for that 2/3. :-)

3) Jason Alexander (the philoscientist, not the actor) used to say that the good thing about evil is that it is so ugly. All you need to do is expose it to light, and people will turn away from it. The beauty of free speech is that we are free to shun those who speak ugly. If you praise Nazi's you lose credibility. Simple. And, some people think that the communist manifesto still has it right. Only more light on the subject will heal that collective/collectivist scar, not trying to suppress its expression.

[bryan farley]

Thank you for commenting and continuing our discussion about the Constitution.

During the 2008 campaign, McCain reminded people that "elections have consequences." He explained, "one of the consequences is the President of the United States gets to name his or her nominees to the bench." (McCain was also explaining his reason for supporting Clinton's two nominees.) Some Republicans thought McCain should have voted against Clinton's appointees.

After the last two Presidents have been elected, I have been interested by our country's larger Constitutional discussion... and let's not forget that both elections were memorable.

Many people who did not like the outcome have believed that the Constitution was violated. Some have acted as if Bush invented the electoral college or forgot that Gore asked to recount a few parts of Florida.

The 2010 group seems to believe their Liberty is being taken away and by capital "L" Liberty, they mean their Constitutional rights.

I can understand the frustration of both groups. Losing is not fun. Yet, a democracy has winners and losers. Capitalism has winners and losers. I am worried that two different sides have quickly concluded that the winning side cheated or violated our sacred code.

This lack of trust has consequences too. Is there a way to transcend it?

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