This content song focuses on the First Amendment--especially as it pertains to student rights. Its catchy, melodic chorus tends to stay with students long after the lesson has ended.

We created the United States, in the name of liberty
With rights inalienable to guarantee we’d be free
At that point in history, for the very first time
individual’s rights came to the forefront of the government’s mind [1]

You can say what you want and pray what you want, relay what you want
You can write what you want, unite when you want and feel what you want
these rights are not always clear [2] but hey what a novel idea

The First Amendment gives us freedom of thought, speech, and peaceful assembly[3]
But just like other laws, these have evolved throughout our history
You can call someone names or criticize the government
But as we will learn, you may not be protected by the First Amendment [4]

You can say what you want, and pray what you want and relay what you want
You can write what you want, unite when you want and feel what you want
these rights aren’t always clear but hey what a novel idea

In the case of Tinker v. Des Moines, the Court ruled against student speech, [5]
Students’ words cannot disrupt the teacher’s right to teach!
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier. a more recent case heard by the Court, [6]
Schools can uphold their curricular mission and students must give their support

You can make noise in class, and say it’s your constitutional right, but the principal can remove you and can call your parents that night

You can say what you want, and pray what you want and relay what you want you can write what you want, unite when you want and feel what you want
These rights aren’t always so clear But hey what a novel idea

 

Suggested Activities

1) Student Handbook
     Ask students to examine their student handbooks and Board of Education manuals to identify school policies on freedom of expression and other First Amendment rights. Invite an administrator to join a classroom discussion on student rights. This will underscore the impact of the First Amendment on student’s day-to-day lives.

2) Debate on First Amendment Rights
     First Amendment issues make good classroom debates and discussion topics. Hypothetical scenarios that force students into Constitutional gray areas work well. For example, ask students whether racist groups espousing hate ideas should have the right to free speech and assembly.

3) Student Rights on the Internet
     Because the issue has direct relevance, students often become engaged when learning about student rights. If they wish to pursue additional information, there are numerous sources on the internet. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) website has a great deal of information about student’s rights.

 

Footnotes

     [1] Although England had taken steps toward the recognition of individual liberties before the passage of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights was the first systematic guarantee of personal liberties in the modern world.
The Bill of Rights grew out of the disagreements between the Federalists (pro-Constitution) and the Anti-Federalists (anti-Constitution) during the Constitutional Convention and ratification (approval) period which followed.
Some Anti-Federalists pledged to support the Constitution only if there were specific protections of individual liberties. The Bill of Rights was inserted as a political compromise to get key Anti-Federalists to vote in favor of the Constitution.
     [2] Although our rights appear to be clear in the Bill of Rights, in practice, there is often great uncertainty. There are “gray areas” where the exact meaning of our rights becomes obscure. For example, just how much free speech do we have? Is “hate speech” protected? Sometimes rights conflict and then it becomes necessary to determine which right is more important in a particular case. The rights of free press and privacy might clash if a newspaper pried into someone’s life and published information about them. Which takes priority, free press or privacy? It is the job of the American court system to resolve these uncertainties. The toughest and the most important cases are decided by the Supreme Court.

 

Additional footnotes and teach tips are available on Musical Media for Education's
Volume 2 and Teaching Guide.