PTaplin_ArgumentEssay_04092023
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Rasmussen College *
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MANAGERIAL
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Philosophy
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
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4
Uploaded by PresidentResolveHummingbird22
1
Argument Essay
Paula J Taplin
Rasmussen College
COURSE#:
Introduction to Critical Thinking
Stephen Honeywell
April 9, 2023
2
School newspapers should have full First Amendment
freedoms.
My opinion on school newspapers having full First Amendment freedoms is,
I feel that they
should have them.
In the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, it safeguards civil liberties
which in that also incorporates freedom of the press, but with a limit being set on the amendment
including student newspapers. This I feel is hypocritical to say the least considering this is toward public
schools. Public schools are under the government’s control and should be expected to abide by the same
laws. Therefore, the freedom of press should apply here as well.
The Supreme Court decision allowing
school administrators to censor student publications under certain conditions makes a mockery of the
First Amendment of freedom of speech.
In this instance the blatant censorship from stopping students in public schools from debating all
issues, would leave the students confused and not prepared for life as an adult and native of the United
States and its laws. Being that included in the First Amendment it states that in fact congress should not
prohibit anyone from exercising freedom of speech including the press or people in general. Our Civil
liberties protect us from the government impeding on our freedoms. But the government has clearly
double talked their way into inputting that the rights of free speech does not hold forth to school
newspapers for the fact that is stated that they are an educated program, therefore any restriction from
a student is considered grounds for being censored. In my view how can this be justified when in higher
learning we are taught the laws of the land and are expected to uphold them?
In conclusion, not being able to have full amendment freedoms is ridiculous. The entire freedom
of speech within the Amendment is then hypocritical. In teaching students the tools hat they need for
journalism, shouldn’t they be held in the same respect and be held accountable for the same regulations
of everyone? If not, then how will they know as an adult how to be held accountable. As far as I am
concerned, they would not in this case. The publisher has the final authority over what goes into the
newspaper, it is true, But the publisher should also not have the right to censor the amendment of
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freedom of speech. There would be no way to teach a student to be accountable if they are being
censored for debatable things that they write about. Seems to me that public schools that are to implant
principles are therefore teaching them about censorship.
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References
Aliprandini, M., & McMahon, M. (2020). Censoring Student Newspapers: An Overview.
Points of View:
Censoring Student Newspapers
, 1–3.
Evinger, B., & Sprague, C. (2020). Counterpoint: School Administrators Have No Right to Censor Student
Newspapers.
Points of View: Censoring Student Newspapers
, 1–3.
Jacobs, W. E., & Newton, H. (2020). Point: School Newspapers Are Part of a Curriculum, Not Forums for
Free Speech.
Points of View: Censoring Student Newspapers
, 1–3.