Home > The Study > About > Profile of Student Attitudes

Profile of Student Attitudes subsections -
Classes / Activities / Community participation / College plans / Tolerance and Knowledge of First Amendment / Student - Teacher - Principal - Adult differences / Freedom of speech / Freedom of press / First Amendment education /
Understanding of the Law / Trust in journalists / Sources of news

Download PDF of this section

A Profile of Students

Classes:

Students were asked a series of questions regarding the specific types of courses they've taken dealing with aspects of the First Amendment and/or the media. While many students have taken general courses dealing with those general subjects, significantly fewer have taken courses that deal specifically with learning journalism skills. There are also some differences across school type (public versus private, suburban versus rural versus urban, etc.).

The majority (58 percent) of students surveyed have taken classes in high schools that dealt with the First Amendment. A slightly higher percentage of public school students (59 percent) than private school students (54 percent) have taken classes that dealt with the First Amendment. Students in rural areas (61 percent) are slightly more likely to have taken these types of classes than students in suburban (58 percent) and urban (56 percent) areas.

While the vast majority of students have had some experience in the classroom with using the media for specific class assignments, fewer have taken classes that specifically discussed the media's role in our society. Three-quarters (76 percent) of students say they have taken a course in which the teacher required them to read a newspaper or watch television news as a class assignment. However, when it comes to courses that study the role of the media and how it impacts our society in various ways, fewer still (52 percent) have taken courses. Of course, the latter is a more specialized type of course and would probably fall into an elective category at most high schools.

Significantly fewer students overall have taken courses that teach journalism skills. Less than a quarter (21 percent) have taken classes in high school that dealt primarily with journalism skills. A greater percentage of students from economically disadvantaged areas (26 percent) have taken such courses than students from higher income areas-lower middle income (22 percent), middle income (19 percent), upper income (21 percent).

Taken classes in high school that dealt primarily with journalism skills?

	This web site is produced by J-IDEAS
	J-IDEAS is funded in part by the John S. and James  L. Knight Foundation's High School Initiative and Ball State University.		J-IDEAS Department ofJournalism Ball State University, Muncie, Ind. 47306 (765) 285-8923 Terms of Service