The Forgotten First Amendment

Whether we're doing our best to ensure that every pica is artfully designed, every article is in proper inverted pyramid form, or discussing whether or not Holden Caulfield ever overcomes his inner demons, it's not often that a social studies issue is at the forefront of our minds. This morning's session with Ken Paulson, president and CEO of The First Amendment Center, reminded us that, just maybe, it should be.

Paulson's presentation in quiz form, which mixed historical information with examples to provide context, not only made me realize that I should probably brush up on my U.S. history, but also how important it is to understand our rights—not just as advisers to student journalists, but as U.S. citizens. While most of us were able to recount the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment in response to his first quiz question, the statistic he shared with us that followed was simply mind-boggling: The number of citizens that know the First Amendment is in the single-digits!

As someone who has always been interested in all things social studies, I've always enjoyed studying and reading about things outside of my English bubble; however, it wasn't until I took over as adviser to our school's newspaper and yearbook that I realized my passion for journalism. It didn’t take long to learn that a passion for journalism must also be coupled with a firm grasp of the law. The more I read, the more intrigued I became; I couldn’t get enough. It was incredibly empowering!

One of my favorite things about this institute is that we’ve had (and will continue to have) so many opportunities to discuss these topics with experts and fellow teachers—to learn as much as we can to take back and share with our students. I was glad to have had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Paulson following his engaging presentation, and I look forward to incorporating much of what he shared with us today in my class next fall.

Aaron Fitzpatrick
Freedom Area High School
Freedom, Pa