5 of 18

Write now Article Tools

You son of a *&%$%*#...what the *#@^ did you do that for!?!

That is a line that I heard in a Kindergarten classroom just three weeks ago. Those words came from the mouth of a five year old. The young man is more street savvy than most who are two or three times his age.

So, if I tell him he can't talk like that, am I taking away his right to free speech?

I think not.

Granted, this may be more of a disorderly conduct by language situation than a freedom of speech case, but where do we draw the line?

Listen to the lyrics of the music that our children listen to today. Listen to the talk radio that is available. Watch television or a movie. What we hear today is totally different than what we heard twenty years ago. The rude and adult language that is so prevalent was unheard a decade go. Okay, two decades ago. Who is policing them? Who is telling them that they have crossed the line?

The point is, at some point we have to point out to our children that there are limits to what can be said where.

So, as we so often do as a society, we turn to the schools to become the parent and the watch dog for society as a whole and expect them to teach our children what is right and what is wrong - what can be said, when it can be said, and where it can be said. And then when they do what our schools do what we ask them to do we chastise them and single them out and give them "heck" for doing their job.

How are schools taking away children's free speech? Simple, they are not.

Schools are being used once again to take the place of parents and are assuming the role of the rule enforcer and the purveyor of morales because that is what the public expects them to do. Speech by students is not censored unless it involves profanity or is inflammatory to the point that a riot may occur.

Hey, that's a safety issue. Be pleased that your children are being protected.

Religious speech? Talk to the Supreme Court about that one. That is not a school district or local school board issue. The "big boys" say that is a no-no.

There is a time and a place for everything. Just because a child attends a public school it does not give him or her any more rights than Joe Q. Public has out on the street. We all have to remember, some things "just aren't right", no matter where you are.

Actually, the school is a wonderful forum for our children to learn how to properly address issues of importance today. It is a wonderful way to learn public speaking and to share thoughts and ideas with others. And schools don't try to limit the thought processes of children, society does by imposing laws and rules that society expects the school to enforce.

Whoa...I did make a terrible assumption. I am assuming that when our title refers to "How schools take away children's free speech" that we are referring to public schools, grades 1-12, United States of America, and not a parochial school or a university or a school in a country other than the USA.

Well, there's the bell. Class is over for today.

After all, this is the Internet and it can be accessed by anyone from anywhere.

Learn more about this author, James Dreyer.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How schools take away children's free speech?
We want to hear your view. Write now!