LME 501-Blog 1: First and Fourth Amendments
There are many things that have changed in our country since its development. However, the first and fourth amendments have remained the same. The first amendment of the constitution says it is illegal to make laws that establish a religion, stop freedom of speech, stop the press from printing, and stop peaceful assembly. The fourth amendment was written into the constitution to give rights to the people when protecting private property and privacy. It is important that school-age children become educated in their rights inside and outside of school.
In Protecting Intellectual Freedom and Privacy in Your School Library, Adams (2013) states that the American Library Association (ALA) defines intellectual freedom as the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. Adams (2013) also explains that it is the responsibility of the school library media specialist to make sure that this freedom is promoted and taken seriously. Adams (2013) also provides examples of case laws that have helped strengthen intellectual freedom. What I found to be a great comparison to intellectual freedom is the term “access”. I feel that if students do not have proper access to materials online, it can sometimes be very difficult for them to get the information they need in order to successfully complete an assignment that meets the 21st century learner standards. Students today are having to compete, more than ever, in a fast-pace technologically advanced workplace. If resources are restricted, how will they ever be able to compete with others in the work force? In Intellectual Freedom for Youth, Annette Lamb (2007) explains that social networks do more than just enable friendships. Lamb (2007) believes that social technology can be used for online learning if used safely. In order for students to understand digital citizenship, they need to be taught about it, its importance, and what it means to be a safe digital user. I think sometimes we take for granted that students already know how to be completely safe when looking for information online. I have learned that everything needs to be taught and demonstrated for students. Teachers should never assume students know how to do something or already know something. Internet safety must be taught in schools. With the number of standards that fall upon teachers in the regular classroom, it would be ideal for the LMS to teach digital citizenship to students.
I also feel that privacy is extremely important for students. Students may not know they have the right to privacy in a school setting. As I have personally mentioned on discussion boards in the past, I am guilty of violating student privacy in terms of calling out titles to overdue library books in front of the class. “It is very important that the LMS communicate to teachers the need to protect the child’s privacy to the fullest degree possible by not “exposing” the titles and corresponding students’ names to the entire class” (Adams, 2013). Unless we educate teachers and students on their rights to privacy, change will not occur. As a future library media specialist, I feel this is one lesson that needs to be addressed with faculty and students in the beginning and throughout the school year. Most educators are talked to about The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) during the beginning of the year teacher trainings, but not in enough detail to understand all aspects of this law. This responsibility has to be led by someone willing to stand up for students’ rights, such as the LMS. In The Fourth Amendment and Surveillance in a Digital World, author Authur Leavens (2015) looks at the factors facing the fourth amendment in our “constant evolving” technological world. According to Leaven (2015), “In the digital age, technology is inescapably woven into the fabric of our lives.” I think this is a powerful statement. Today children are almost born knowing how to use technology that we take for granted every day. We, as teachers, sometimes concern ourselves as to whether or not students can find information they need or create multimedia projects using different resources online. This article by Leavens (2015) deals with government surveillance in the digital world, but does connect to privacy pertaining to school-age children. Explaining one case law dealing with the violation of the fourth amendment, Leavens (2015) says that courts ruled that the fourth amendment protects people, not places. He believes the fourth amendment has two components: coverage and content. Therefore, students have the right to digital privacy when researching personal or educational information. I think this privacy is critical
From my readings, I have learned that every student has the right to intellectual freedom as supported by the first and fourth amendments to the constitution. As an educator, it is my job to make sure that my students are aware of their rights. Students need to be encouraged that it is okay to safely use social media for educational discussions. Teaching digital citizenship can help students know how to evaluate websites for accuracy along with keeping themselves safe online. Students can also be taught how to be responsible and take proper steps when viewing something that may be inappropriate. I have also learned that privacy is a right for students of all ages. The LMS and teachers need to make sure they do not discourage students from reading about a topic that may be questionable by asking reasons behind choosing a specific topic to read about or research. Posted in a blog by school leaders for school leaders called Leadertalk (2010), it is said that “We must come to a consensus as to what constitutes boundary areas of the schoolosphere if we are to succeed in a successful transition to a digital world.” Until we, as educators and citizens, see the importance of intellectual freedom and privacy for our students in education, we are closing the door to valuable opportunities for growth and their futures in the work place.
Resources
Adams, H. R. (2013). Protecting intellectual freedom and privacy in your school library. United
States: Libraries Unlimited.
Contributor, L. (2010, February 28). 1st and 4th amendment rights and the Schoolosphere.
Retrieved September 12, 2016, from http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/LeaderTalk/
2010/02/1st_and_4th_amendment_rights_a.html
Lamb, A. (2007, November). Intellectual freedom for youth: Social technology, social
networks, and collaborative tools. School Library Media Activities Monthly, Vol. 36, Issue 2,
38-45. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aasl
pubsandjournalsknowledgequest/kqwebarchives/v36/362/KQW36_2Lamb.pdf
Leavens, A. (2015). The fourth amendment and surveillance in a digital world. (pp.709-746,
Publication).
