In celebration of Constitution Day, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona’s Southern Arizona Chapter is sponsoring an essay contest for students in grades 9 through 12 who attend high schools in Southern Arizona. Students can choose to write about students’ civil rights, on and off campus. Cash prizes are $500 for the first place winner, $250 for the second place winner, and $100 for the third place winner.
Students must submit essays (no longer than 1,000 words) on either of the following topics:
a) The First Amendment grants everyone, including students, the freedom to speak and express themselves without worrying about government interference or censorship. However, in a school setting, speech that people may find offensive, disruptive or inappropriate is often censored. For example, schools often ban students from wearing clothing that promotes alcohol or drug use. Some schools have attempted to ban the wearing of clothes or bracelets that some people say promote homosexual lifestyles. Other schools have attempted to ban anti-war symbols, student prayer circles, and sex education flyers. How should schools balance a student’s right to free speech with concerns that some people may find some types of speech offensive, disruptive or inappropriate for a school setting?
b) Over the last 10 years, social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter have become very popular. Students use these sites to chat with friends, plan events or talk about their private lives. Unfortunately, sometimes students also use these sites to bully other students, make fun of teachers, and to insult their schools. Increasingly, school administrators are monitoring these websites and punishing students for comments they make about their school, their teachers, or other students. Should students face punishment for what they write on their own personal web pages? Is punishing students for what they write outside of school a violation of the First Amendment? Why or why not?
Essays must be submitted on 4 double-spaced pages. Margins must be 1 inch on all sides, and font should be 12-points. Please include the word count at the top of your essay. To apply: Please complete the Contestant Information Form and return it with your essay by mail to:
ACLU-AZ Essay Contest
PO Box 44340
Tucson, AZ 85733
or email to:
essaycontest@aclusaz.org.
(If you submit your essay by email, please include a separate page with
the information requested on the Contestant Information Form.)
Deadline: Essays MUST be postmarked or sent via email no later than midnight of April 1, 2012. Questions: Send questions to: essaycontest@aclusaz.org.