Snarky Professor Enforces the First Amendment in Animas High School
To see the rest of the senior class' First Amendment videos click the link below!
Senior´s First Amendment Videos1st Amendment Reflection Essay
The Constitution is the foundation beneath our government that makes the United State the country it is today. It outlines how the national government works, the rights of the people, and the distribution of power between the national government and the states. The first ten amendments of the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights and focus on the different freedoms given to the citizens of the US. For example the 1st Amendment outlines the freedoms granted to citizens: speech, press, religion, assembly and redress of grievances. These freedoms are critical for the continuation of the United States of America as we know it. As Thomas Jefferson proclaims, "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press." Specifically, it is important that the youth of the nation are educated about the government and the Constitution. It is crucial for us to understand our constitutional rights so we might exercise these rights and recognize when they are being violated.
This project opened my eyes to how much room there is in the Constitution for interpretation. In many cases the Constitution gives loose guidelines rather than set rules. Therefore, the responsibility to bring clarity and uniformity falls to the court system. Case law is one tool used to define and refine a universal set of laws. However, there are situations where a conclusion has still not been reached. For instance, in the Supreme Court case Tyler Chase Harper v. Poway Unified School District where a high school student decided to express his religious views against homosexuality by wearing a t-shirt with the words, “BE ASHAMED, OUR SCHOOL EMBRACED WHAT GOD HAS CONDEMNED." "HOMOSEXUALITY IS SHAMEFUL ‘Romans 1:27.’ ” written on the front and back. When the school official told him to remove the shirt, he refused saying it was a violation of his 1st Amendment rights. He was then sent home which prompted Harper to sue the school. The courts have not yet made a definitive decision regarding this case. Creating rules for an entire nation is not an easy task. Also, as time progresses norms change and new disagreements arise. It is up to the courts to figure out what is just. However, as we saw above, sometimes even the courts cannot color in the grey area. When our class dove into the 1st Amendment and all the uncertainty that comes with it I acquired a new perspective on the government. A lot of rules are not set in stone and can be changed or clarified.
Informed citizens are the key to sustaining liberty and moving toward a better future. By possessing a more in-depth understanding of the Constitution, I have the tools to make change. As expressed in the conclusion of my 1st Amendment video, "Only through the knowledge of the constraints on the freedom of speech can we push the boundaries." By creating this video we have already started to share and contribute to society. The more people that have clear understanding of their constitutional rights, the less likely these rights are to be taken away. Also, a large group of educated people have the power to make changes. When arguing a point it is crucial to know the concessive argument. Therefore in order to challenge the government or even the Constitution one must fully understand both. Change is inevitable and it is my responsibility to use the knowledge that I have gained to make change for the better.
The over arching argument behind much of the debate on the 1st Amendment is deciding where the balance is between freedom and security. We see our nation struggle to find equilibrium between these two important values throughout history. One such case is when the senate passed the PATRIOT Act shortly after the 9/11 attack. This act allows the executive branch of the government power to encroach on a citizen's right to privacy in the name of national security and preventing terrorism. However, as the only senator to vote against the PATRIOT Act, Russ Feingold urges, "We must continue to respect our Constitution and protect our civil liberties in the wake of the attacks." This is where the battle between security and liberty can be seen. After such a traumatic event, the citizens hold national security as very important. But as Senator Feingold reminds us, we still must retain our liberties. It is difficult to decide between your freedoms and your security. This debate will continue to be the focus of many issues to come and therefore is a prevalent question that I will continue to try and answer.
Students understanding how the government works and what is in or not in the Constitution provides them with the tools to know their rights or conversely know when they are being violated. It is crucial for the function of the United States that the citizens are informed about how the country is run. As Abraham Lincoln declared at the Gettysburg Address, "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." This government that he envisioned would not be possible without an educated populace. Knowing about the government and Constitution early in life gives a person that much more time to fight for their rights and make the change that they want.
