The First Amendment: Free of Expression
In 1787 our forefathers ratified the constitution of the United States
of America, which contains the most important document to any American citizen,
the Bill 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 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.
these freedoms (commonly called the freedom of expression) are of the most
important rights in a truly democratic society. Without them there would be
no new ideas; we would all conform under totalitarian rule for fear of
punishment. However, when I, a common student at West Rowan High School try
to express my feelings on "the state of the Bill of Rights in schools today" by
making a computer presentation in multimedia class, my work is declared "bad"
and my teacher and assistant principal do one of the most un-American things
imaginable: they censored it. I had to re-make the presentation and lighten
the harsh tone, and also erase the anarchy symbol from it. The teacher said
that she was worried about me for reasons such as my feelings on the freedom of
religion were almost satanic, because I said teachers should not be able to
publicly practice religion in schools because it will encourage students to
become a part of that religion. The presentation was neither slanderous nor
obscene, but it did criticize teachers and administrators calling them "fascist
dictators". At first I was angry at the school because I could wear clothing
that was obscene or contained liquor advertisements, now they have completely
taken away my freedom of speech. This of course proved my argument that
teachers and administrators are totalitarians. As one journalist put it, "If
Freedom of expression becomes merely an empty slogan in the... [continues]
In 1787 our forefathers ratified the constitution of the United States
of America, which contains the most important document to any American citizen,
the Bill 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 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.
these freedoms (commonly called the freedom of expression) are of the most
important rights in a truly democratic society. Without them there would be
no new ideas; we would all conform under totalitarian rule for fear of
punishment. However, when I, a common student at West Rowan High School try
to express my feelings on "the state of the Bill of Rights in schools today" by
making a computer presentation in multimedia class, my work is declared "bad"
and my teacher and assistant principal do one of the most un-American things
imaginable: they censored it. I had to re-make the presentation and lighten
the harsh tone, and also erase the anarchy symbol from it. The teacher said
that she was worried about me for reasons such as my feelings on the freedom of
religion were almost satanic, because I said teachers should not be able to
publicly practice religion in schools because it will encourage students to
become a part of that religion. The presentation was neither slanderous nor
obscene, but it did criticize teachers and administrators calling them "fascist
dictators". At first I was angry at the school because I could wear clothing
that was obscene or contained liquor advertisements, now they have completely
taken away my freedom of speech. This of course proved my argument that
teachers and administrators are totalitarians. As one journalist put it, "If
Freedom of expression becomes merely an empty slogan in the... [continues]
Cite This Essay
- APA
-
(1999, 10). The First Amendment: Free of Expression. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 10, 1999, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/First-Amendment-Free-Expression-3414.html
- MLA
-
"The First Amendment: Free of Expression" StudyMode.com. 10 1999. 10 1999 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/First-Amendment-Free-Expression-3414.html>.
- CHICAGO
-
"The First Amendment: Free of Expression." StudyMode.com. 10, 1999. Accessed 10, 1999. http://www.studymode.com/essays/First-Amendment-Free-Expression-3414.html.
