MIAMI — High school teachers heading into this new school year face two big problems: their students know very little about the First Amendment, and at the same time the Department of Education has required teachers at every federally funded school to teach students about the Constitution this September.
TeachFirstAmendment.org is designed to help teachers face both challenges. The web site provides teachers with free resources to meet the new Congressional requirements that go into effect this fall.
The web site, launched today by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, offers teachers and administrators the best available free teaching guides and lesson plans as well as other resources like tools for starting and protecting student newspapers and broadcast stations. Educators can also find a short quiz on the site to test their own knowledge and students’ knowledge of the First Amendment.
“Our goal is to make it easy for teachers to bring the First Amendment into classrooms on Constitution Day,” said Eric Newton, director of journalism initiatives for Knight Foundation. “Educating tomorrow’s citizens is a tall order. We think providing convenient access to free teaching materials will help.”
The web site, which links to lesson plans, posters, books and student media assistance offered by Knight Foundation grantees, was developed in response to a national survey earlier this year showing a lack of First Amendment know-how in high schools. University of Connecticut researchers found that nearly half the students surveyed believe the government can censor the Internet, and one-third think the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees. These results echo a recent trend in declining student test scores in history studies, and support calls under way in several states to refocus on the civic mission of schools.
The Department of Education announced last May that it would require all schools that receive federal funds teach about the Constitution every year on Sept. 17, the day the Constitution was signed in 1787. According to the Department, when Sept. 17 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, Constitution Day shall be held during the preceding or following week. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) championed the federal mandate, which was included as part of Congress’ 2004 spending bill.
TeachFirstAmendment.org is live and available to all teachers starting today.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of 26 U.S. communities. Since 1950, the foundation has approved more than $260 million in journalism grants.