Thread: Are Online Death Threats Protected Free Speech

America's educational problems stem from a failed attempt at education reform dating back to the early twentieth century. John Dewey spearheaded the first major effort to modernize America's primary and secondary schools, in the late 1890's and early 1900's. Granted, the school system was in dire need of reform, but Dewey was wedded to a single philosophical school of thought. He championed a form of pragmatism. His views on education help explain the emotional reactionarism that plagues the U.S. today. In his 1938 book, Experience and Education , he contends that schools are wholly social institutions in which the emotional development of the child is even more important than the curriculum. I agree that a child's psychological development is important, but I cannot disagree more that it should take precedence over mastering the subject matter. Unfortunately, Dewey's philosophy remains the primary impetus behind American elementary and secondary schools. As you pointed out, this early focus on emotionalism is preyed upon by various factions which promote radical agendas that don't help the child develop a well-rounded foundation in core knowledge. Many of these institutions dabble in pseudo science, revisionist history and the like. Public schools, on the other hand, focus on social development as opposed to individual development. Both carry significant importance and are necessary for a well rounded individual. The entire public school system is geared towards various standardized tests, or at least they are in Texas. Educational quotas fail to instill the fundamental knowledge base of the pupils. It also explains the great difficulty American students encounter in learning secondary languages. This system unintentionally impedes a student's development. Worse yet, it limits the amount of time instructors can give to students who develop and learn differently. Even some of our private schools, modeled on a more European method of learning, are hampered by strictly enforced government mandated time quotas. I attended one of those private schools based on the European model. My learning style is completely auditory. So, I took longer to grasp subjects like arithmetic. Because of time constraints, I had to be tutored outside of school just to keep up. Those topics will never be my strong suit, but I got the foundational base needed to expand in university, and ultimately, law school. There are many factors contributing to America's failing education system. None of the solutions would be easy either. Politicians despise difficult or complex solutions. Even when those solutions are the only feasible option available. All in all, it places America's youth in a very precarious position. One of the major casualties of the Dewey educational system is the topic of Civics. I agree that math, science, and technology are important but the condensed version of history and civics fail to instill what civil rights people naturally possess. In addition, it fails to provide students with an appreciation or understanding of why free speech is so important. That being said, I'm not trying to say that there aren't a great number of American students who develop this knowledge on their own. Rather, in general, our schools do a poor job in extrapolating the more abstract principles behind fundamental human rights. Humanist principles are lost in a somewhat truncated focus on knowledge. Liberal Arts are superseded by science technology and math. I believe the different schools of knowledge share an equal importance. To truly reform education, students must gain a firm grasp in both, before specializing in university and, if the student so chooses, super specializing in graduate school. Anecdotally speaking, that's the path I took in my educational career. I specialized in history with my bachelors, and super specialized in law with my juris-doctor. My great appreciation for fundamental rights didn't fully develop until law school. While history taught me the significant challenges free speech faced, e.g., the Alien Sedition Act of 1798, I never realized how close the right came to vanishing all together. Thus, I left law school with a much greater appreciation and respect for these rights. For me, all the above mentioned reasons explain why America and her citizens are similar to German citizens in the Wiemar era. An educational system devoted to emotionalism over logic makes us more susceptible to a charismatic charlatan. This is especially true in a moment of social upheaval. That susceptibility means that free speech is in extreme danger, and that makes me all the more wary of attempts at its regulation. Liberty is fickle in the sense that it requires constant vigilance. Every generation will face a challenge to their fundamental rights. It's the natural course of government to compete with the independence of their people. Therefore, the protection of rights like free speech takes on special significance. If those mechanism are weakened or eroded to a point of meaningless, then the forces of tyranny and oppression gain the upper hand. This leads me back to the abstract way that free speech is covered in condensed civic courses. The course presents free speech in a black and white aura. You either have free speech or you don't. However, history shows that when free speech is abridged, it occurs in phases. Often gray-areas are used to limit it. Emotionalism is whipped up to a state of hysterical euphoria. That, in turn, makes it easier for the government to regulate the right out of existence. Nothing will change the fact that there are crazy people who will abuse their rights. As I've stated before, rights come with responsibilities. Nevertheless, the government will always seek opportunities to diminish the rights we have. It makes us easier to control, and control is the central focus of any and all governments. I suppose that is why government may be referred to as a necessary evil. It's necessary to prevent rampant abuses and chaos, but in the end, its still an evil. Caution cannot be over stressed with respect to civil liberties. Too many governments throughout human history have abused this. Natural yearnings and inclinations of humanity are swept aside in favor of efficient order. But, what good is security or order if you're not free to make your own choices, or to state your own beliefs? Without these qualities, humanity withers on the vine, and despotism reigns supreme.