Well, this weeks discussion is about censorship in school newspapers.
When I first thought of the idea of writing about it, I thought it would be
easier than the last one we did about gun control. And it turned out it was a
little bit easier in writing it because in this one I don’t have to ramble about
all the statistics that I learned about the subject and end up boring the class to
a almost certain drowsy state. Which in my opinion isn’t exactly what I am
looking to do when I am writing a report. Instead I intend to inform and at
the same time entertain the reader. If there were very extreme censorship
laws in what I can write in a report then I couldn’t very well do my job as a
writer. This is where my subject comes in. The first Amendment, as
everyone knows, states that we have the freedom of speech, religion, and
stuff like that. But doesn’t the constitution also states that there are laws
against indecent acts that were to be decided as the years went on that would
become “inappropriate” in places to do, which just weren’t accepted. So
which is true? That we have the freedom to state what ever is on our minds
or that we can only say what is on our minds only if it is “appropriate”. This
question in my opinion will be in a constant debate and probably will never
be fully answered because, we as a society have such a diverse opinions on
even the smallest things. What are the chances of us deciding on what is
“appropriate” and what it not, much less if it is “appropriate” to do, to talk
about, to look at or anything else like that at our public schools. In my
opinion it really shouldn’t matter what we learn or talk about in school. If I
learn something I don’t believe in my heart me reading it or memorizing it
isn’t going to brain wash me into believe it much less offend me. So why
does anyone actually care what we learn in school? Because like I said
earlier we as a whole in the United States are just WAY TOO picky about
what we have offered to us that is basically free. For instance here is a little
scenario for you to ponder, and you tell me when you start to think it gets
offensive. Okay here it goes, good students at school decide to start a
writers club at school with the permission of teachers and parents. Next
they decide they kinda like it and they want to work really hard at it to make
it even better. During their hard work they end up starting a newspaper to
share their wonderful talents with the rest of the student body. Are you
offended yet?? Okay if your not then here is where is starts to bug a few
more people the paper goes well until...... they write a paper about
pregnancy in the schools!!! Amazing huh, that students actually have the
audacity to write about things we see everyday walking through the halls, see
on TV, and a million other places that I could name. Well these students
newspaper was taken away because of this simple article that meant to
offence, it was just written to entice and entertain the readers. Heaven
Forbid!!! But, as I have stated earlier, we as a society just can’t be pleased
nothing can be good enough or is it nothing is okay with everyone because
there are always a few whiners in the group. In my opinion we should get to
write what ever we feel like we should write except for some foul language
that should be left out. Which just doesn’t help anything. But as it goes on
subject it shouldn’t ever matter. I don’t believe that it will ever end up like
this until the few bigits and extremist of our society learn to keep thier mouths
shut so that other people can actually gain from what our fore-fathers fought
so hard to give us. That will never happen that is just a “Perfect World”
which will hopefully come in due time. When and If that time comes I hope
everyone will finally be happy. By the way the story about the kids and the
newspaper. It is true and they students fought back and have filed charges
against the school and the case is pending. I just want to say good luck.