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Key Finding 3

Students lack knowledge and understanding about key aspects of the First Amendment. Seventy-five percent think that flag burning is illegal. Nearly half believe the government can legally restrict indecent material on the Internet.

"Schools are not teaching the principles of the First Amendment broadly enough. That's in part because civics education has all but disappeared. It's odd that we're in the second great era of immigration to this country and these groups are not being exposed to the basics of our Constitution and democratic society."  

-Richard Lee Colvin, Director, Hechinger Institute on Education and the Media, Columbia University

Students are, on the whole, unclear about constitutionally protected First Amendment rights. For example, they were evenly split over whether government can legally restrict indecent material on the Internet: 49 percent erroneously said yes, while 51 percent correctly said no.

This graphic shows that just 25 percent of students correctly believe that flag burning as a means of political protest is legal.

Under current law, do Americans have the legal right to burn the American flag as a means of political protest?

Student's responses (correct answer is "yes")

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