Preserving the Freedom of Expression

            Sometimes I wonder what would happen if the framers of the Constitution could come back to life and see the influence of this document on the world. Would they be proud? Would they see that their hard work made a difference in this country? Or would they see that some aspects of their efforts were completely pointless?

            Take a look at the First Amendment, for example. Yes, most people know this statement guarantees the freedom of speech, but let’s not forget another important aspect: “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom… of the press.”

            Yep, that’s right – the press can reveal almost anything, as long as it isn’t libelous or slanderous. Journalists of all ages can expose misbehavior of officials, or corruption in big companies – the possibilities are endless as long as it is true and evidence can be used to support it. Journalists can even express their opinion on any kind of topic, granted it is in the form of an editorial. America is one of the few countries that allow this type of behavior. This is a benefit of living in a democracy – if our country were under a dictatorship or authoritarian regime, the press would be highly censored and controlled. As an aspiring journalist, I am extremely grateful for this privilege, but a part of me wonders if it will even be applicable in some places in the coming years.

            I know that there will always be some sort of press in the country – no matter what kind of medium it evolves into (be it Internet publications or blogs), there will always be a need for the news and for the people who write it. But as for high school journalism, there is no guarantee that it will always exist.

            I can’t speak for all high schools, but I do know that the Publications Program at Oak Ridge High School is in serious danger. Due to budget cuts and a  “lack of enrolled students,” the administration is seriously considering getting rid of the school Newspaper next year. In addition, sections of Journalism are in the process of getting eliminated, as well as the Yearbook program. Oak Ridge has already contacted an outside company to create some sort of video yearbook instead. So instead of having friends sign autograph pages at the end of the year, I guess they’ll be signing a small disc instead.

            This entire situation is devastating to me. If the Newspaper program was no longer available, students would lose their free forum of expression. Oak Ridge would become even more of a bland, boring institution – one that is only concerned with AP scores, school rankings, and college admission rates. While there would still be music or art programs to at least offer an ounce of creativity, there would be nothing left for the writers like me.

            Writing has always been my biggest passion. This may sound unbelievable, but even in elementary school, I knew I was going to be a writer one day. Although many of my interests have changed, one thing has never faltered: my love of writing.

            When I entered high school, I was so excited to finally have a place to showcase my writing. I enrolled in Journalism my freshman year, and from then I was hooked. I joined the Newspaper staff when I was a sophomore, and I’ve been there ever since. From being a timid staff writer to the current Editor-in-Chief, I have spent the majority of my high school career dedicated to this newspaper. Aside from learning the values and mechanics of journalism, I have learned a great deal about myself. I learned how to develop my own voice; I saw how to be assertive and opinionated. And on a more personal note, I developed a bond with the staff members and with my advisor – one that couldn’t have been created in a normal classroom setting.

            In just a few months, I will be out of high school. Before I know it, I’ll be packing for college and embarking on the next stage in my writing career. But that doesn’t mean that I can forget about my past. This doesn’t mean that I don’t care about the future of the Newspaper, just because I won’t be a part of it. As an active citizen who cares about the values and freedoms of this country, it is my duty to ensure that the people who follow me will have the same benefits.

            I want a writer like me to experience the magic of seeing her name for the first time in print. I want someone to hold a complete and printed newspaper for the first time, and know that their hard work really was worth it. This would never happen if Newspaper was eliminated.

            After reading all of that, some may be wondering why I wrote this in the first place. To make people  feel sad and upset? Well, that might have been some of my intent, but the bigger message is this: We need to fight. If there is anyone out there who cares about preserving our First Amendment rights and the tradition of a school newspaper, we need to let this be known.

            How can we do this? For now, the solution is simple. Let the world know this problem exists. Spark up conversations with classmates and teachers about the danger this program faces. Write a letter to administration. Do something. We can’t just sit back and watch our freedoms deteriorate before our eyes.