The First Amendment and free spirits

Maria Byrke

The 2019 Free Spirits pose for one final group photo after the graduation ceremony of the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference in Washington D.C.

The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is a unique experience for aspiring journalists to learn from each other, professionals in the field, Al Neuhath’s family and testimonials, as well as the First Amendment itself. Hosted by the Freedom Forum Institute in DC, the program champions the First Amendment as a pillar of democracy that must be upheld in the media. On the first night, participants and one student journalist from each state were asked to explain their favorite freedom as well as what the First Amendment means to them.

I chose the Freedom of Petition.

As a student from the state of New Hampshire, I knew I wasn’t guaranteed First Amendment rights in schools, despite the state mantra: “Live Free or Die.” I was fully aware that the school could legally silence my voice at any moment, so I held the concept of petition for redress of grievances close- my perceived secondary option for expression as a highschool student. 

Yet only hours before offering my take on the First Amendment, I sat next to several other Free Spirits, frantically typing “the first amendment” into the search bar of my phone. Only a few could name all five freedoms on the spot, despite all of our states having some sort of civic and government educational obligation. I’d memorized the First Amendment only months before for the Civics final, one course that satisfied the N.H. state requirement for civic education. Apparently all but the basic provisions of the First Amendment didn’t quite stick with me.

Unfortunately, my lapse in memory was not solely due to nerves; I was not the only student to forget the five freedoms after having them drilled into my head for a four month period. In a survey conducted to determine the percent of Hollis Brookline High School students that could name all of the aspects of the First Amendment, only 10 percent of respondents were able to do so. The majority of participants had taken a civics course or were currently enrolled in a civics class as well. 

Just like the rest of America, it turns out the students and staff of Hollis Brookline High School are largely unaware of their First Amendment rights. 

The lack of conscious recognition and knowledge of these basic freedoms isn’t the fault of the Social Studies Department, or even the state itself. A topic or concept has to truly matter to an individual to become permanently etched in their memory. When memorizing the First Amendment for a quiz or a grade, the freedoms become nothing more than more monotonous material, despite a teacher’s best efforts to make them come alive for the students.

I have the Conference and my fellow Free Spirits to thank for helping me fully comprehend the gravity of the First Amendment and the broad intersection with the press, student rights, musical expression and everyday life.

Are you a junior in high school dedicated to the freedom of the press and interested in pursuing a career in journalism? Apply to represent your state at the 2020 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference!

Gallery • 5 Photos

Maria Byrke

Freedom Sings, a band dedicated to illustrating the freedom of expression through music, performs for the Conference participants in the Knight Studio. The songs played ranged from protest music from the Civil Rights Movement to the Beatles, each one highlighting a different aspect of how the United States has experienced censorship and free expression through lyrics. I personally did not consciously recognize how the First Amendment formed the backbone for much the musical expression throughout history and today.