Free Speech in the High Schools

June 21, 2008 in Administration, Campus Protests, Civil Liberties, High School, Politics, Student Power, Students | by | Leave a comment

An essay on free-speech rights in high schools from a First Amendment scholar:

After 12 years of censorship and regimentation, many high school students will graduate this spring with little or no idea about what it means to be a free, active and engaged citizen in a democracy. When they march across the stage to get their diploma, let’s hope someone slips them a copy of the First Amendment – with instructions on how to use it.

Far too many public school officials are afraid of freedom and avoid anything that looks like democracy. Under the heading of “safety and discipline,” administrators censor student religious and political speech, shut down student newspapers and limit student government to discussions about decorations at the prom.

Fortunately, a growing number of brave students defy the odds and take seriously what they hear about free speech in civics class…

Read the whole thing.
 

Canadian St Govts Ban Anti-Abortion Clubs

June 12, 2008 in Civil Liberties, Feminism, Gender, Politics, Reproductive Freedom, Student Government, Student vs. Student, Students | by | 1 comment

The student government of York University in Toronto has voted to deny recognition to pro-life clubs and organizations. 

According to an article in the National Post, at least four other colleges — Capilano College, the University of British Columbia Okanagan, Lakehead University, and Carleton University — have taken similar action in recent months.

The Post also reports that the Canadian Federation of Students has passed a statement resolving that “member locals that refuse to allow anti-choice organizations access to their resources and space be supported.”

Summer Schedule

June 7, 2008 in Students | by | Leave a comment

April 2009 note to folks who find this through a WordPress blog — the notice below was posted in June 2008. We’ll be keeping up a regular posting schedule this summer and beyond.

We’re going to be posting on a somewhat reduced schedule for the next couple of months, because of the summer break. If you’ve got a hot tip about an ongoing action or an upcoming event, give us a holler and we’ll pass it along.

Acts of Courage and Belief

June 6, 2008 in History, Quotes, Student Power | by | Leave a comment

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. … It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

–Robert F. Kennedy, speech to the National Union of South African Students, Capetown, South Africa, June 6, 1966.

80 March in Toronto Supporting Student Protesters

June 5, 2008 in Access, Campus Protests, Civil Liberties, Finances, Police, Student Power, Tuition and Fees | by | Leave a comment

Eighty activists marched on a Toronto courthouse Tuesday, urging prosecutors to drop charges against the fourteen people who were arrested in a March demonstration at the University of Toronto.

“We are rallying to show our support and to demand that the criminal charges be dropped, and the academic investigation against the students be dropped as well,” said Ahmina Hanif, a protest spokesperson.

The charges, which include forcible confinement mischief, stemmed from a March 20 demonstration against hikes in student fees.

About This Blog

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StudentActivism.net is the work of Angus Johnston, a historian and advocate of American student organizing.

To contact Angus, click here. For more about him, check out AngusJohnston.com.