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Participation and the First Amendment
Class Participation Index / Activities Participation Index / School Media Index
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Participation and the First Amendment
Class Participation Index (CPI)
As with participation in media-related extracurricular activities, the degree to which students have taken classes that deal with media and/or the First Amendment clearly has an effect on their attitudes, tolerance, and knowledge of related issues. Like the API, the Class Participation Index (CPI) deals specifically with participation levels of students. This index is comprised of four types of courses students may have taken: classes dealing with the First Amendment, classes addressing the role of media in society, classes dealing primarily with journalism skills, and classes requiring an assignment to read a newspaper or watch television news. As with the media-related activities in the API, one must note that not all schools offer all, a few, or, in some cases, any of these courses in the first place.
The first thing that sets the CPI apart from the API is that most students have taken at least one of these types of courses in high school. Whereas 86 percent of students were classified as no activity students on the API, just 10 percent of students fall into the no classes category on the CPI. Just under a quarter of students (23 percent) have taken one class and just over a quarter have taken two (28 percent) or three (29 percent) classes. A smaller, but still significant, percentage of students (10 percent) have taken all four types of classes.
Class Participation Index
A pattern that emerges with regard to the CPI comes in the "don't know" response category. Whereas in the API, various groups did not express an opinion on many questions, when it comes to the CPI there is an even more consistent trend. As one might well predict, across all types of questions, students who took none of the classes answer "don't know" at a much higher rate than those who have taken classes. Just having some experience in the classroom with media and First Amendment issues correlates with the ability of students to express an opinion either way on questions dealing with these issues.
The propensity of students who have not taken any of the classes on the CPI to respond "don't know" is apparent when assessing reactions to how much freedom the press has in America . Overall, students across the CPI feel similarly about the level of freedom the press in America has. However, those who took at least one course were more likely to express an opinion either way (34 percent of students in the none category said "don't know" compared with just 15 percent of those who have taken three or four classes). Therefore, although students who did express an opinion feel similarly on this issue, the high "don't know " percentage for those who have not taken any of these classes demonstrates the point that those with more classroom experience dealing with these issues are more willing and/or able to express an opinion.
Press in America too much/too little freedom
Since overall the plurality of students think the press in America has about the right amount of freedom to do what it wants, it is not surprising that most think newspapers should be able to publish freely without government approval of a story. The more classes a student has taken (or, the higher the CPI level) the higher percentage that agrees newspapers should be able to publish freely without government approval of a story. While 54 percent of those who have taken either three or four classes agree, 51 percent of those who have taken two classes agree, 49 percent of those who have taken one class agree and just 43 percent of those who have not taken any classes agree. Again, a significant percentage of students who have not taken any of these courses (25 percent) did not express an opinion. When we isolate those who did express an opinion, this variance across CPI level significantly decreases.
Newspapers should be able to publish freely without government approval of a story
All students
Newspapers should be able to publish freely without government approval of a story
Only students who expressed an opinion
Looking specifically at students who have taken classes dealing with the First Amendment, the majority (53 percent) say newspapers should be able to publish freely, while fewer (48 percent) of those who have not taken such courses agree.
When it comes to student opinions as to whether or not high school students should be allowed to report controversial issues in their student newspapers without approval of school authorities, we see a very similar pattern. Initially, it appears as though students who have taken more classes are more likely to agree; 56 to 62 percent of those who have taken at least one course agree compared to 47 percent of those who have not taken any CPI courses. Again, however, a large percentage (27 percent) of students who have not taken any of these courses responded that they "don't know." When those who expressed an opinion are isolated, the range narrows from 15 percentage points separating those who have taken four classes from those who haven't taken any, to just a three-point range.
High school students should be allowed to report on controversial issues in their student papers without approval of school authorities.
All students
High school students should be allowed to report on controversial issues in their student papers without approval of school authorities
Only students who expressed an opinion
Similar to the freedom of press issues, students who have not taken any classes are also less likely to express an opinion on various questions dealing with freedom of speech. While just 6 to 11 percent of those who have taken at least one class say they do not know if people should be allowed to express unpopular opinions, nearly a quarter (23 percent) of students who have not taken any of these classes say they do not know. Still, a majority (68 percent) of students who haven't taken any classes say they agree that people should be allowed to express unpopular opinions. Stronger majorities (81 to 88 percent) of students who have taken at least one class agree, however. Again, when taking out those who didn't answer, this difference diminishes from a maximum 20- percentage point difference to a maximum 5-percentage point difference between those who have classes and those who have not taken any classes. It is important to keep in mind that the fewer classes a student has taken , the less likely they are to have answered this question in the first place.
People should be allowed to express unpopular opinions
A nearly identical pattern emerges when we look at students' attitudes toward musicians singing songs with lyrics that some may find offensive across the CPI. Again, a much higher percent age of those who have not taken any courses (20 percent) do not express an opinion than those who have taken courses (6 to 10 percent). A greater level of tolerance for this form of expression is indicated among students who have taken more of the CPI courses. Nearly three-quarters of those who have taken three (74 percent) or four (72 percent) classes agree that musicians should be able to sing such songs. A smaller percentage of those who have taken fewer classes on the media and the First Amendment agree (70 percent among those who have taken two CPI classes, 67 percent among those who have taken just one CPI class). The smallest level of agreement with this form of expression came from students who have not taken any CPI courses at all-just 60 percent agreed with that right.
Musicians should be allowed to sing songs with lyrics that some might find offensive.
This 14-percentage point difference across levels of the CPI again narrows to a five-point variance when we look only at those who expressed an opinion. Those who have formed their opinion appear to feel similarly on this issue, regardless of how many classes on the CPI they may have taken. However, if students have not been at all exposed to any First Amendment or media issues in the classroom, the likelihood that they have actually formed an opinion is weaker.
There are also indications of a major difference between the effects of classes and the effects of activities on high school students' opinions on one issue in particular: burning the American flag as a political statement. While students who registered high on the API were more likely to agree that Americans should be allowed to burn their flag as a form of protest, that is not the case with students who register high on the CPI. A high percentage of students who have taken none of the courses on the CPI again did not express any opinion at all. However, unlike with other free speech and expression questions, the variance between high CPI and no CPI students does not change when we just look at those who expressed an opinion.
People should be allowed to burn or deface the American flag as a political statement
All students
People should be allowed to burn or deface the American flag as a political statement
Only students who expressed an opinion
How then, if at all, does the CPI affect students' overall tolerance for the First amendment freedoms? What about the degree to which they personally think about those freedoms? As we might expect, greater percentages of students who have taken three or four of the CPI courses disagree that the First Amendments goes too far in the rights it guarantees. Nearly 4 in 10 (37 percent) students who haven't taken any CPI courses said they did not know, which was more than double the percentage of students who had taken all four classes who responded that way. Because so few of the students who hadn't taken any CPI classes expressed an opinion, higher percentages of students who took three or four of the CPI courses also agree that the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees. The trend again decreases when just those who did express an opinion are compared.
However, simply comparing students who have taken a course dealing with the First Amendment in particular with those who have not, we do see variation in opinion. Nearly half (48 percent) of those who have taken such a course do not think the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees. Fewer, however, of the students who have not taken this type of course say the First Amendment does not go too far (37 percent).
The First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees.
Students who register higher on the CPI personally think more about the First Amendment than those who are low on the CPI; they also think Americans in general do not appreciate the First Amendment freedoms the way they ought to. To an even greater degree than we observed on other issues, students who have not taken any CPI courses generally have not formed opinions on these matters. Regarding the question of whether or not Americans appreciate First Amendment freedoms the way they should, just 60 percent expressed an opinion either way. On the more specific question of whether they personally think about the First Amendment or take it for granted, less than half (48 percent) expressed an opinion. This is significant. Unlike with other questions, the trends we observe initially hold true when we isolate only those who ventured an opinion.
Personally think about or take for granted the right guaranteed by the First Amendment?
All students
Americans do not appreciate First Amendment freedoms the way they ought to.
All students
Similarly, the students who register higher on the CPI are more apt to think that Americans do not appreciate the First Amendment the way they should. This pattern remains when we isolate those who expressed an opinion. Since not many students did express an opinion on this issue, the chart below shows just the students who did.
Americans do not appreciate First Amendment freedoms the way they ought to.
Only those who expressed an opinion
Among those students who expressed an opinion as to whether they personally think about the rights of the First Amendment or they take them for granted, a much higher percentage of those who have taken classes on the CPI say they personally think about these rights. Whereas just 39 percent of those who have not taken any CPI courses say they personally think about these rights, a much higher 53 percent of those who have taken all of four types of CPI classes personally think about them.
Personally think about or take for granted the First Amendment freedoms
Only those who expressed an opinion
Across CPI levels, few students think that most people in the United States personally think about the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. Again, one finds an extremely high percentage of students who have not taken any such classes answering "don't know" to this question. Just half (50 percent) of those students surveyed expressed an opinion. A slightly higher percentage of students who have taken more classes believe people personally think about these rights. Once again though, when isolating those who expressed an opinion, the pattern changes a bit.
Most people in the United States -- do they personally think about or take for granted the First Amendment freedoms?
All students
Most people in the United States -- do they personally think about or take for granted the First Amendment freedoms?
Only students who expressed an opinion
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The effect of CPI on tolerance and attitudes varies significantly. When it comes to knowledge of current laws, in most cases, those who have taken First Amendment or media classes are more knowledgeable than those who have not. In some cases the margin of difference is slight and in one striking instance a greater percentage of those who have not taken any classes know the law better then those who have taken classes. Specifically, students who took fewer classes answered correctly at a higher rate the question as to whether the government has the right to restrict indecent material on the Internet. (It does not.) While 60 percent of students who have not taken any CPI classes correctly stated that the government does not have the right to restrict indecent material on the Internet, fewer of those who have taken CPI types of classes answered that correctly.
Does the government have the right to restrict indecent material on the internet?
Percent who answered correctly (i.e., said"no")
The legality of shouting "fire" as a prank in a crowded place was another area when higher CPI level did not seem to influence knowledge in any significant way. The majority of students across the board (75 to 78 percent) correctly determined that under current law a person does not have the right to shout "fire" as a prank. Roughly three-quarters of students across CPI levels know the correct answer and about a quarter did not.
Does someone have the right to shout "fire" in a crowded arena as a prank?
Percent who answered correctly (i.e., said"no")
Still, there were other questions about the state of current laws where it appeared that taking more CPI type classes increased knowledge. One such question dealt with the legality of burning the American flag as a form of political protest. Overall most students felt that this is something that Americans should not be allowed to do. The strong personal feelings exhibited by students on this issue may well have impacted their answers on the question of legality. The majority of students across the CPI incorrectly stated that Americans do not have the right to burn the flag as a means of political protest. However, larger percentages of those who have taken CPI types of classes answered the question correctly. Not surprisingly, students who have taken courses that specifically dealt with the First Amendment in particular answered that question correctly (27 percent) at a significantly higher rate than those who did not take this type of course (21 percent). But as a general matter, no group of students could be characterized as well informed on this controversial issue.
Do Americans have the right to burn the flag as a means of political protest?
Percent who answered correctly (i.e., said"yes")
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