The First Amendment is about to go on trial in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth District. The issue is whether first grade students' free speech falls under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. According to World Net Daily, the trial is a result of an 8-year-old elementary student handing out candy canes with the word "Jesus" imprinted on them.
Two other incidents at the school, a girl handing out pencils with the word "God" imprinted on them and stopping an entire classroom from writing "Merry Christmas" on cards which they were sending to troops serving overseas, are also part of this suit. According to the WND article:
"The school officials are arguing 'that the First Amendment does not apply to elementary school students,' explains the appeal brief submitted by Liberty Institute."
How can supposedly educated, rational school administrators actually believe this? Does this mean that students are only allowed to express what the government control schools dictate to them? To some, this brings back memories of a certain regime in the mid 1930s which ended rather badly. If this ruling is allowed to stand, it will only be a matter of time before it will be extended throughout the entire school system, not just the first grades.
The real issue here is not that the school wants to restrict free speech, although this will certainly do that. It is actually part of the progressive agenda to remove any references to "God" or religion from our society. The progressive left continues to insist that the United States Constitution in the First Amendment specially calls for "the separation of church and state," even though it says no such thing. The First Amendment states:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; —US Constitution
One can only wonder what the school would have done if instead of "God" on the pencils, it read "Allah." The Bill of Rights in the Constitution guarantees both the right to free speech and, as stated above, the free exercise of religion. This includes everyone, no matter what their age, sex, religion, sexual preference, or race is. Just because you may not believe what is said doesn't mean you have the right to suppress it.
It is time we stop infringing on the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, before we have none left.
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Comments: 5
This is the normal point of view.
Minor & juveniles are basically chattel, like women before emancipation.
This situation appears secure, because parents generally support it.
Most parents see the child (even at quite an advanced age) as "mine".
They also see schools as "theirs". They want that control.
That right was sold off quite awhile ago, voters rights next, seperation of church and state never existed, fair trade, it goes on. It will be a bitter lesson for the young man. This is why the younger generation (3) children or yound adults that are my children are actually anti-government to the point of revolt. I hope we do not shoot our own kids for the protection of wealth and power.
Hope I am way off base, hardly think so though. Best to you sir.