On the subject of a student's right to practice the 1st Amendment, I have a few opinions. The First Amendment basically forbids the Congress from interfering with freedom of religion, speech or press, or with the right to assemble peaceably, or to petition the government. Many people use the rights stated in the First Amendment, resulting in a very diverse country we live in. The amendment is also practiced in schools, mostly relating to the freedom of speech by students. This can consist of everyday talking, newspaper articles, etc. Generally, you are allowed to say whatever you wish to, as long as it is not "harmful to others or to an educational environment." I believe this to be right, to an extent. In my opinion, it really depends how this speech will affect the target audience. Will the speech cause something catastrophic to happen? The chances are probably not, but it also depends on those in control, and their opinions of the content. For example, a school newspaper article was published, explaining the safety measures the school was taking, and the serious lack of legitimate safety. The author was required to not publish the piece, after the administrator believed it was not school appropriate. In some ways, I think that this is because the administrator did not feel like taking heat for how they were handling their school. Like I said, the freedom of speech in schools depends on several variables: the opinions of those that are involved, the actual effect that it will cause in the audience, and the speech that is used itself.

This WWII propaganda poster shows soldiers from WWII marching off to war, while being watched by those that fought in the Revolutionary War. Its is trying to convey the message that Americans will always fight for liberty, and at that time, they were standing up and fighting for the same values as those that began America. To make this poster anti-war related, I would do several things. The main change I would make to this poster would involve the soldiers that are marching off to war. I would have the soldiers marching down steps into the ground. At the end of the steps would be a hole with a gravestone that read, "Here lies (blank), he fought valiantly for his country." With a gravestone with this heading, it makes it seem like if you die in the army, they do not bother to care about who you are, you're just another name on the same gravestone that everyone got. The soldiers marching down into their graves is a very discouraging idea if one is thinking of joining the armed forces, and it sends the message that if you join to fight, you are pretty much digging your own grave. I would keep the writing on the poster the same. It reads, "Americans will always fight for liberty." If I keep the writing the same while having them walk to their deaths, it becomes ironic. It says that Americans will always fight, but in doing so they will die trying. These changes, in my opinion, will create a very anti-war related poster.