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Future of the First Amendment

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photoIn his state of the union address, President Bush extolled the power and the virtue of American citizens and their democracy. But just what that means appears to be lost on a portion of America's young when it comes to a central pillar of American freedoms, the First Amendment.

A national study commissioned by the Knight Foundation and conducted by researchers at the University of Connecticut says that one-third of American high school students think the First Amendment "goes too far" in guaranteeing freedom of speech.

Educators are not giving high school students an appreciation of free speech and free press, according to the study researchers, who questioned more than 100,000 high school students, nearly 8,000 teachers, and more than 500 principals and administrators.

Tune in to hear about the knowledge and appreciation of First Amendment gurantees by America's high school generation.

Guests:

Kenneth Dautrich, professor of public policy at the University of Connecticut, director of the "Future of the First Amendment" study;

Peter Levine, deputy director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement;

Gene Policinski, executive director, First Amendment Center;

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst.

This program aired on February 3, 2005.

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