WHY SHOULD STUDENTS HAVE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?
Because we cannot preach one thing and practice another. Students immediately see through the charade of teaching the Constitution in government class and then not being able to practice it in journalism. Time magazine said two years ago, in talking about the growth of democracy in the United States, that people who would censor are really saying they mistrust the intelligence of the people who would make decisions. In dealing with a free press and the inherent decision-making that goes with it, students learn to apply all the skills taught in their academic classrooms. They use analytical and interpretive skills every day in deciding assignments, angles to stories and, initially, what is news and how this topic affects the reader. One of the most important skills is that of critical thinking. Making decisions of content and planning involves continuous development of critical thinking skills. Censorship prevents this development. A censor is after cloning and “thought control.” A demo
