The first 3-4 hours of the Reynolds Institute today was exactly what I was looking for. I had questions about making the Tooele High Buffalog more professional and what I can do to instill journalism, not just writing, into the minds of the students.
I got at least twenty ideas for things to talk about with my class, starting with the first amendment and continuing on to pitch papers and S.O.B. journalism. Little examples the attendees gave will be invaluable for my class. My mind was racing as my pencil was flying to try to write everything down. I hope everybody keeps the ideas flowing. I got weeks of teaching ideas in just a few hours.
I liked the first amendment advertising campaign that featured Ellen Degeneres and Ke$ha, but I think it should be expanded to include others with alternative voices and perhaps unpopular ideas. Perhaps they should feature Jerry Falwell, Jesse Jackson, Michael Moore, and Jim Bob Duggar. Let's get some people who use the first amendment every day.
Ryan Peacock
Tooele High School
Tooele, Utah
Ryan - I hear you about the other viewpoints, but those figures are divisive and might upstage the message. At some point in every year though I love pointing out to students that 'unpopular speech' is protected too. It always gets them when I mention that the KKK has as much right to speech as Oprah! Thoughtful kids get this - freedom means freedom for all. This bombshell leads into my droning lecture about the best refutation of a bad idea is a better idea -so they had best get thinking! I have no idea if this impresses anyone to think or try harder, but I like it ;)
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