I Find This Very Ironic 

CNN had this story a couple of days ago:

The way many high school students see it, government censorship of newspapers may not be a bad thing, and flag burning is hardly protected free speech.

It turns out the First Amendment is a second-rate issue to many of those nearing their own adult independence, according to a study of high school attitudes released Monday.

The original amendment to the Constitution is the cornerstone of the way of life in the United States, promising citizens the freedoms of religion, speech, press and assembly.

Yet, when told of the exact text of the First Amendment, more than one in three high school students said it goes "too far" in the rights it guarantees. Only half of the students said newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories.

First of all, I find amusing given the fact that I just mentioned my high school government teacher. Obviously this is a sad state of affairs, but I don't find it surprising. What I find amazing are some of the quotes they present in the news story, given the context of what they're trying to say:

The students are even more restrictive in their views than their elders, the study says.

When asked whether people should be allowed to express unpopular views, 97 percent of teachers and 99 percent of school principals said yes. Only 83 percent of students did.

Wait. You're telling me that almost all teachers and principals think unpopular views should be allowed? These are the same teachers and principals that have forced students to start movements like Protest Warrior right? These are the same ones that ban anything even looking like the confederate flag or the south in general? Maybe if these teachers and principals practiced what they preached in their own schools, their students would realize what rights they actually have. But wait, it gets even better. If you continue reading the CNN story you get this tidbit:

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, has even pushed through a mandate that schools must teach about the Constitution on September 17, the date it was signed in 1787.

Maybe the good Senator should read the document himself (particularly the 10th Amendment):

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Like I said... just chalk full of irony.