Young Voices Chronicle
Repression By Douchebagville,
aka Regional District 10
Via
Media In Motion
&
Young Voices Shall Be Heard
Avery Doninger never thought that calling her school administrators a name on her blog would create such an issue, but yet she finds herself at the center of a First Amendment storm.
By Jessica Gaafar
Sophomore, Crosby High School
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press: or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
For those who haven’t caught on yet, this is the First Amendment in the Constitution, which applies to every citizen in the United States. Basically, as United State citizens we have the right to say what we want as long as we don’t say something that could possibly damage another’s reputation.
Doesn’t this also pertain to students? So why are schools banning students freedom of speech. Students have the right to state their opinion. Students have the right to petition. Students have the right to stand up for what they believe in. Isn’t this what school teaches us? Or is a student’s First Amendment rights checked at the school door?
Avery Doninger was 16 years old and a junior at Lewis Mills High School in Burlington, when she was punished for insulting school officials. She is a pretty good student who gets B’s, challenges herself, and takes AP classes. She had been secretary for 3 years in high school and would have been for the fourth year if it were not for the school not allowing her to run.
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