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| Photo by Erin Riley |
| (From left) IU Interim Student Media Director Nancy Comiskey, HSJI Director Jack Dvorak, North Central High School publications adviser Tom Gayda, Columbus North publications adviser Kim Green and IU SPJ chapter president Alberto Morales formed the First Amendment panel last week. |
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More than 100 high school students, School of Journalism students and area media advisers gathered Thursday for a panel discussion at Bloomington High School North.
Organized by North’s publications adviser Ryan Gunterman (B.S. ’02), the panel included Diana Hadley, executive director of the Indiana High School Press Association; IU Interim Student Media Director Nancy Comiskey; Indiana High School Journalism Institute Director Jack Dvorak; Director of Student Publications at North Central High School Tom Gayda; Columbus North High School publications adviser Kim Green; IU sophomore and Society of Professional Journalists IU chapter president Alberto Morales; and School of Journalism Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Amy Reynolds.
Gunterman wanted high school students to listen, learn and ask questions.
“I don’t expect them to walk out of here as experts on the First Amendment,” he said. “I just love to see that it’s a topic that’s being discussed.”
Comiskey opened the discussion by reminding young journalists that they must tell the truth and get it right.
“You have a responsibility to consider the impact of what you write or what you broadcast,” she said.
Dvorak read passages from a study called “Putting the First Amendment First.” According to the study, the majority of America’s high school students do not know their First Amendment rights. Dvorak said school curriculum could be to blame.
Each panelist urged students to take advantage of their First Amendment rights, while still taking careful responsibility for their writing.
“You have the power to make or break another student’s life,” Green said.
She said students must work with administrators to guarantee a free press. In high schools, principals have rights to prior review of the school’s publication.
Reynolds spoke about the impact of the Supreme Court case commonly known as “Bong Hits for Jesus.” She also spoke about Internet social networks and student’s rights regarding free speech on the Web.
“As a student, you have opinions and you have a right to share those opinions on your MySpace page,” Reynolds said. But students must not be on school grounds while using MySpace or other social networking Web sites, she said. If students use school computers to post, she explained, administrators may take disciplinary action.
Comiskey also stressed the importance for students to demand First Amendment rights.
“We have the free-est press in the world and we should be vigorous in protecting that,” she said.
Students raised questions about being required to stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance at school. They also questioned whether the words “under God” should be included. Green assured students that they do not have to say anything they do not want to, including the words “under God.”
“Even if it’s laziness that keeps you from wanting to stand up,” she said, “that’s your right.”
To close the discussion, each panelist shared why they think students should learn about the First Amendment.
“It’s so important to our function as a free society,” Comiskey said. “It’s the keystone of our democracy.”
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Gunterman wanted high school students to listen, learn and ask questions.
“I don’t expect them to walk out of here as experts on the First Amendment,” he said. “I just love to see that it’s a topic that’s being discussed.”
Comiskey opened the discussion by reminding young journalists that they must tell the truth and get it right.
“You have a responsibility to consider the impact of what you write or what you broadcast,” she said.
Dvorak read passages from a study called “Putting the First Amendment First.” According to the study, the majority of America’s high school students do not know their First Amendment rights. Dvorak said school curriculum could be to blame.
Each panelist urged students to take advantage of their First Amendment rights, while still taking careful responsibility for their writing.
“You have the power to make or break another student’s life,” Green said.
She said students must work with administrators to guarantee a free press. In high schools, principals have rights to prior review of the school’s publication.
Reynolds spoke about the impact of the Supreme Court case commonly known as “Bong Hits for Jesus.” She also spoke about Internet social networks and student’s rights regarding free speech on the Web.
“As a student, you have opinions and you have a right to share those opinions on your MySpace page,” Reynolds said. But students must not be on school grounds while using MySpace or other social networking Web sites, she said. If students use school computers to post, she explained, administrators may take disciplinary action.
 |
| Photo by Erin Riley |
| School of Journalism Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Amy Reynolds talked about free speech on the Web. |
“We have the free-est press in the world and we should be vigorous in protecting that,” she said.
Students raised questions about being required to stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance at school. They also questioned whether the words “under God” should be included. Green assured students that they do not have to say anything they do not want to, including the words “under God.”
“Even if it’s laziness that keeps you from wanting to stand up,” she said, “that’s your right.”
To close the discussion, each panelist shared why they think students should learn about the First Amendment.
“It’s so important to our function as a free society,” Comiskey said. “It’s the keystone of our democracy.”
