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Key Findings- (1)(2)(3)

Key Finding 3

Gender and Knowledge of the First Amendment

Male students (28%) were more likely than female students (21%) to know that flag burning is legally protected.

“Please indicate whether you think under current law Americans have the legal right or not to do these things…Under current law, do Americans have the legal right to burn the American flag as a means of political protest?”

Percentage that correctly answered “YES”

Male students were also among the most well acquainted with the constitutional rules that govern the Internet.  56% of the male students surveyed knew that the government does not have the right to restrict indecent material on the Internet, as compared to just 45% of the female students.

Reporters have gone to jail in recent months for protecting sources, but the courts’ power to jail reporters in this way is not so well known to high school students.  Of the subgroups surveyed, Males (33%) were more likely to recognize that power of courts than did females (30%).

The limits of free speech are perhaps best captured by the adage: “You can’t falsely shout fire in a crowded theater.”  Unfortunately, a significant percentage of high school students don’t recognize that as a limit.  In this instance, women (79%) were more likely to recognize correctly that such a right does not exist; just 74% of the males correctly recognized that limit.

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