Every year, the MCLU runs Bill of Rights Conferences for high
school students across the state to educate them about their 1st, 4th, and
14th amendment rights. Some students are well aware of their constitutional rights,
but most are surprised just how powerful their
constitutional rights can be, and are impressed by stories of students who have
stood up for their rights.
This year, two stories emerged that
can be added to the docket of students standing up for their first amendment
rights.
First is 10 year old Will Phillips of Arkansas. Will refused to
stand for the pledge of allegiance in his class because, when considering the
insufficient rights of gays and lesbians in our country, he said: “I
really don't feel that there's currently liberty and justice for all.”
Will’s substitute teacher repeatedly pressured him to stand for the pledge and
tried to intimidate him by mentioning that she knew members of his family,
finally causing Will to speak up against her and then be sent to the Principal’s
office. Will still refuses to stand for the pledge of allegiance, in spite of
the taunting and harassment from classmates that have followed his protest. When
he was interviewed by the Arkansas Times and asked “What
does being an American
mean?” Will responded to the reporter: “Freedom of speech,” Will says, without
even stopping to think. “The freedom to disagree. That's what I think pretty
much being an American represents.”
Another student who stood up for her rights is a 17 year
old student at Lebanon High School in Indiana, who in March sued her high school for
denying her the right to wear a tuxedo to her prom. The school touted a gender
biased dress code that “Men wear tuxedos and women
wear formal dresses.” The ACLU of Indiana represented the student, who “said in court filings
that she doesn't wear dresses because she sees them as expressing a sexual
identity she doesn't embrace.” Ultimately, the school reversed its decision
and announced that "School
policy for this year's prom will be that all attendees shall wear appropriate
formal attire with no gender-based attire requirements imposed. Female students
will be permitted to wear tuxedos if they
chose."
The more you know about your rights, the more you can
stand up for them. If you are a teacher interested in having your students
participate in a Bill of Rights conference, let us know at [email protected]