The First Amendment is more than a historical artifact that we study in government class. Freedoms such as the right to free speech are central to our daily life in a democracy. One of the foremost objectives of education in a democracy is to foster, promote and protect the right to speak freely. This means that everyone at McLean High School should feel free to express unpopular views without fear of punishment. To the extent that teachers and students at the school feel inhibited about debating and exchanging all kinds of ideas, we are being deprived of essential educational experiences.

In my Spanish class, we used to have lively debates about current events issues. Our teacher expressed her views in Spanish, and if we had something we really wanted to say, we could even speak English in order to get our point across. There was never any pressure to agree with the teacher. Unfortunately, a parent complained, and the teacher told us that there would be no more discussions involving current events. Since then, our class has never been the same. A once integral part of the class faded away, and any interest by students has seemingly disappeared.

Pressure on teachers to restrict what we discuss is not necessary or valuable. There is a general trust in teachers not to grade based on their views on any issue. By restricting the teachers, you not only eliminate the relationship of trust between students and teachers, but also give students an educational disadvantage.

It is extremely important that teachers and students at McLean High School feel free to express their opinions on a wide range of political subjects in the classroom. When we graduate and go out into the world, we will encounter every kind of idea, and we will confront challenges to our established beliefs and values. The high school classroom – whether the subject is history, literature, foreign language, or anything else – is the best place for people to test different views. The most effective teachers are the ones who are provocative, who invite a lively exchange of views, and who are not afraid of controversy.

This administration has always supported free speech and has encouraged the students to say whatever we believe in the newspaper and elsewhere. It is necessary to let the administration continue to stand up for and defend the right of teachers to welcome and encourage open debate on controversial issues. Teachers should feel free to express their opinions, regardless of the subject. If occasional complaints cause a teacher to be afraid to allow these debates, the great losers will inevitably be the students. Not only will classes be dull, but students will never have the opportunity to learn to deal with real world controversies.

From time to time, a student or parent may feel uncomfortable with views expressed in a classroom, or with topics that are discussed. Current events and politics open up subjects that people have passionate and divergent opinions about. Teachers stress that taking a rhetorical position on issues further develops the student intellectually and educationally.