Whitney Jefferies
Transcript of what I'm Saying...
Hi my name is Whitney Jefferies and I am responding to “Greg Lukianoff on campus censorship,” a video that discuss topics presented in Adam Bellow’s, “New Threats to Freedom.”
The Supreme Court ruled that students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,” in the Tinker vs. De Moines decision in 1969. However, this court’s decision has been contradicted in many schools for the reason that educational institutions maintain the power to censor what students read, write and yes even speak. The question is; how have schools been able to get away with the censorship of students for so long? I believe it is due to the lack of response from the public. Everyone expects someone else to handle troubling situations. A very few number of people choose to speak up for what they believe in or speak out against what they don’t. After being introduced to Adam Bellow’s, “New Threats to Freedom,” I’ve decided that as a college undergrad I’m going to express myself.
To understand censorship, it is important to know the history. In 1988, just 19 years from the Tinker case, the Supreme Court ruled that school officials have the right to control school-sponsored student publications that are not public forums of student expression. As you can see, the laws evolve and people such as you, have the power to set the tone of change. This case in particular dealt with a high school paper called “The Spectrum,” which was a product of a journalism class in Hazelwood high. In the end, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Hazelwood School District. As a result, school officials may impose some limits on school-sponsored publications.
How do these two court decisions affect our lives? Well, they hold just as much of an impact in my position as a student journalist as your position as a citizen with rights. Thanks to the Framers of the Constitution, you have the natural born right to express yourself in all aspects of your life. This is a great freedom that most immigrants look forward to as they arrive to what America has deemed a “free land,” yet what about me? Should we as American citizens accept the fact that your freedom of speech is protected while mine is limited? We need to wake up and realize that this issue of censorship in schools is and has been a direct violation of the First Amendment. In other words, this phenomenon poses a real threat to freedom.
Some may argue that some content should be regulated and or censored. Yet I question this statement. I want to know what they are so afraid of. What, that they are going to read their teenagers high school newspaper and find a secular article or an opposing viewpoint? Let me ask you this, would the alternative be worse than our present circumstances? Picture this, you wake up in the morning to turn on the news, or read your newspaper on your way to work. You discover that only the opinions of the newspaper editors and media owners are expressed in papers, magazines and television stations. You can no longer seem to get the full story of anything anymore. Also, the library books in our educational institutions are regulated by people who share different opinions from yours. Maybe you notice that a white supremacist has taken all black owned books from the shelves. Or that an African American school district member decides to only fill his library with Black history books and refrains from allowing any other non-black published books in the libraries of his school. Is this reality better? Most importantly, how would you know what your opinion is if you haven’t heard more than one? The answer is you can’t. Until you hear the opinions and expressions of others, you will not be able to form one of your own. Instead you will be stuck in a place where you would have to rely on the closest or most popular opinion to shape your view on the world or situation. This alternative would be similar to writing a history paper with only the winner’s viewpoint. During this research, wouldn’t you most likely agree with the winner?
In conclusion, if the trend of censoring continues in schools, our students as well as the public will become ignorant of the important aspects that shape America. The rights and freedoms that silence dictatorship and encourage democracy. Censorship is a serious problem, yet it is only a symptom of control. It is true, everyone needs balance, and this is the reason for our judicial system and law and order. However, we as American citizens need to determine the line between an authority’s power to control and a citizen’s right in the constitution. Only then will we have prevented this threat to freedom from becoming an attack to American society.
I agree that we should not regulate what we say in student publication. Being a student myself I feel that were are all entitled to our own opinion because we have the right to freedom of speech.
ReplyDeleteI agree to a certain degree. Certain things shouldn't be broad casted if students were allowed full freedom of publication and speech it is in the constitution but some words may cause problems. For example the government keeps certain info from the public for the better of the peoples good. So I agree just not fully.
ReplyDeleteI believe we all have our freedoms, and rightfully so! But with freedoms comes responsibilities to govern, and be governed accordingly. It is the balanced line of giving students their freedom, and protecting them from their own freedom that the administration must locate and walk carefully. Take away a students rights and you've come against what makes America herself...but there must be some degree of accountability to someone for students, or the "administration" is not needed. we can not assume that every student is going to make responsible decisions every time.
ReplyDeleteIt can be argued both way, but honestly order is what both sides need and want.
Whitney, you demonstrated a very intelligent perspective regarding the concerns surrounding censorship. The media does play an intricate role in shaping our values and beliefs based on biased opinions. I agree all individuals should have the liberty to form their own opinions based on the information provided, not the personal sentiments of another. You did a very thorough job explaining your point-of-view. You were clear and concise and have initiated an important discussion that taps into the very core of this issue.
ReplyDeleteI especially agree with your statement, "Until you hear the opinions and expressions of others, you will not be able to form one of your own." One cannot fully challenge him or herself to think critically if he or she is not exposed to the opinions, viewpoints, and knowledge that other individuals express. This is especially relevant in the college context as students go from being learners in a pedagogically-driven environment and are suddenly being challenged to think and behave as adults. As college students begin to define themselves in this new context, it is critical that they are exposed to a variety of perspectives so that they can, in fact, assume the role and responsibility of being an adult not only in a learning environment but as contributing members to society as well. It is not an accurate depiction of the "real world" to have censorships in schools because it does not adequately prepare students to reflect and respond as they will have to when they graduate and are living and working in a society that welcomes freedom of speech. I think you bring up a lot of valid, well researched and well articulated points, Whitney. Thank you for sharing!
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