Disturbing Attitudes on the First Ame...

Log Out | Lost Password? | Topics | Search Contact | Register | My Profile | SO home | MOL home

Thread Originator Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post   Closed: New threads not accepted on this page

Author Message   Albatross Citizen Username: Albatross Post Number: 481 Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 12:17 pm:        A study released in the last couple of days reflects a startling and disturbing pattern in high school students regarding their knowledge of and attitudes toward the First Amendment. Among the findings: * Nearly three-fourths of high school students either do not know how they feel about the First Amendment or admit they take it for granted. * Seventy-five percent erroneously think flag burning is illegal. * Half believe the government can censor the Internet. * More than a third think the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees. * Only 51% of students believe that newspapers should be able to publish freely without government approval of stories. Linkage: http://firstamendment.jideas.org/findings/findings.php   Michael Janay Citizen Username: Childprotect Post Number: 1534 Registered: 1-2003 Posted on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 12:29 pm:        Todays youth, tomorrows leaders.   jet Citizen Username: Jet Post Number: 736 Registered: 7-2001 Posted on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 12:34 pm:        Huh, I don't feel tardy.   notehead Supporter Username: Notehead Post Number: 2007 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 2:25 pm:        I suspect that half of today's high school students could not label 75% of U.S. states on a map, either. But I don't know if they are any less aware or informed than kids were 20 years ago. I didn't see any interpretations to that effect during a quick look at the web site linked.   Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 2480 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 2:44 pm:        Kids!-BurgessMeredith.wav (42.6 k)   cjc Citizen Username: Cjc Post Number: 3093 Registered: 8-2003 Posted on Friday, February 4, 2005 - 10:50 pm:        I think their perceptions are rooted in a distrust of the media and a desire for some truth arbiter like the government to take things under it's control. Placing government as the censor is totally off base in reality, but I think that's behind their sentiments. And it's not the alternative media that brings them there. CBS, NY Times, CNN and others are right up there if not more prominent as having failed Big Time.