Free Speech

[Pixilated]

I generally make a post along the lines of "Go ahead. I dare you to spend 150 bucks to speak to a lawyer about this. Be sure to listen when he tells you that you're an idiot."

A little bit of trivia - there is only one specific way an individual can break the constitution (there used to be two, but prohibition got revoked). Almost without exception, it limits the actions a government can take. (Well, sort of. It doesn't stop the various governments from passing unconstitutional laws, just from enforcing them)

Love it.

We don't hear that argument up here in the Frozen North but only because we don't have the shortcut of "It's against the XXth Amendment!!" because we don't have amendments -- and I doubt that more than five percent (maximum) of students have a clue what is or is not legal under Canadian constitutional law. Which is, perhaps, lucky.

[Shalom]

I wonder how many blank stares you'd receive if you flat out asked your students, "Am I a government body? Do I work for the government? Am I a government employee, either for the state government or the federal government? No? Then I can't legally infringe upon your first amendment rights. It doesn't work that way. Now, write your damn papers."

Well said.

Only problem is, some teachers do work for the government. My wife is a teacher in the public school system. Her employer is the Board Department of Education, and thus she is, in fact, a government employee. I don't think any rules she promulgates in the classroom can be considered actions of the government as a whole, though, so she's probably not bound by the First Amendment per se.

[Andara Bledin]

The answer to EVERYTHING is 42.

Of course it is.

The sticker, however, is this: What is the question?

^-.-^

[Ironclad Alibi]

Of course it is.

The sticker, however, is this: What is the question?

^-.-^

The question was, "What is the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything?"

[Andara Bledin]

The question was, "What is the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything?"

Alas, no. 42 was the answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything, but that wasn't what the actual question was.

^-.-^

[SongsOfDragons]

Alas, no. 42 was the answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything, but that wasn't what the actual question was.

^-.-^

Wasn't one of Dent's suggestions "How many roads must a man walk down"?

[Syriilord]

I wonder if these students use the same excuse in their math class. After all, saying 2 + 2 = 5, however incorrect it is, is still protected by free speech.

Wait a minute Hawking. I checked the math. 2 + 2 isn't five, it's six. SIIIIIX!!! /Crocker

[Miss Fatale]

Yes, those children/students are completely misunderstanding freedom of speech. Would it be worth putting up the full text of the first amendment in your classroom and spending one session covering what it does and doesn't mean?

Not a bad idea, actually.

And how interesting about Australian spelling!

[KaeZoo]

So by their logic, why aren't they infringing on your freedom of speech by insisting you approve of their work?

[PepperElf]

Not a bad idea, actually.

And how interesting about Australian spelling!

Actually you can do one better and obtain pocket-sized copies of the whole thing. Pretty cheap if you're buying in bulk. (I found it for $30 / 100 copies online). So you can literally hand them out.

One of the Texas companies we order from likes to include free copies (as well as other freebies) in the shipping package when you order from him.


But... it doesn't just stop at kids trying to claim the 'first'. i've heard about kids whining lawsuits just for having to do homework or because they failed a test. As if it's not right that they didn't score well in a class they put no effort into.

[dalesys]

Wasn't one of Dent's suggestions "How many roads must a man walk down"?

Before he admits he is lost? (The Chenille Sisters)

[Kanalah]

Yeah in my Chem class last semester we had quite a few whiners.

At this school the bulk of students are in mid to late 20's, married and have kids. So it's not like they're teenagers with no clue about how school works.

Funny that the biggest whiners were the ones who text on thier phones or surf the net during lectures.

[EricKei]

In the USA, the Chicago Manual of Style is the canonical grammar book. It's the one I had to use for the grammar and syntax for my published books, since they were for a US publisher.?

Whatever happened to MLA? I know Chicago is unquestionably the standard for Journalistic works, but I thought high schools/colleges used MLA or something similar for plan old term papers and such...?

Alas, no. 42 was the answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything, but that wasn't what the actual question was.

*puts on his resplendent glittering battle shorts* I do believe you're looking for "What do you get when you multiply six by nine?"

Note that, afaik, that equation really DOES come out to 42 in Base 13. This was apparently totally unintentional on Adams' part.

[siead_lietrathua]

Love it.

We don't hear that argument up here in the Frozen North but only because we don't have the shortcut of "It's against the XXth Amendment!!" because we don't have amendments -- and I doubt that more than five percent (maximum) of students have a clue what is or is not legal under Canadian constitutional law. Which is, perhaps, lucky.

canadian charter of rights and freedoms. section 2.

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
(d) freedom of association.

/nerd

[thehuckster]

Whatever happened to MLA? I know Chicago is unquestionably the standard for Journalistic works, but I thought high schools/colleges used MLA or something similar for plan old term papers and such...?

I've always used MLA in my school assignments, but it might vary from school to school, or even from teacher to teacher. A teacher with a journalistic background might prefer the Chicago standards simply because it's what he/she is accustomed to, but other teachers with a pure academic background might prefer MLA.